Managing Your Utah Traffic Ticket: Options and Next Steps
Managing Your Utah Traffic Ticket
Receiving a traffic ticket in Utah can feel overwhelming—but understanding your options can make all the difference. From improving your driving record to contesting a citation or working with an attorney, Utah law offers several ways to handle traffic violations responsibly.
Whether you choose to complete a safe driving program, contest your ticket in court, or pursue a plea in abeyance, taking the right steps can help protect your driving privileges and minimize penalties. The key is knowing what each option means and how it affects your record.
Below, we outline the main ways Utah drivers can manage their tickets, keep their licenses in good standing, and move forward with confidence.
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Safe Driving Program
You can clear your own driving record by driving safe. When you drive 1 year without a moving traffic violation conviction, half the demerit points will be removed from your driving record.
If you complete a driver improvement course recommended by a Division Hearing Officer then 50 points may be removed from your driving record. Contact the court in the area in which you received the traffic ticket to ask if it has a list of approved courses or programs.
If you drive 2 consecutive years without a conviction, all points will be removed. Points for individual convictions are automatically removed from your record three years after the date of the violation.
Responding To Your Ticket
There are two ways to respond to your traffic ticket:
- Paying the fine
- Requesting a contested hearing
Regardless of plea, it must be entered before the ticket's due date. In most cases, this will be about 30 days from the infraction date.
Pay the ticket
Paying a Utah traffic ticket is an admission of guilt.
This means:
- You are waiving your right to challenge the traffic ticket in court.
- Depending on your UT driving record, the DPS may suspend your Utah driver's license.
- The traffic violation may cause an increase in your car insurance rates.
Requesting A Contested Hearing
If you want to plead “not guilty" to the violation, you can request a contested hearing at the relevant county court by checking the appropriate check box on your ticket and then mailing it in to the court.
Only 5%
Of Drivers Contest Their Traffic Tickets
Hiring An Attorney
Fighting your traffic ticket can help you avoid fines, license suspension, and increased insurance premiums. A traffic ticket attorney is a major asset in that fight. Typically, you can expect an attorney to:
- Request a contested hearing
- Request discovery for your case
- Represent you in court
- Negotiate with the prosecutor to have your charges dropped or reduced
Plea in Abeyance (P.I.A)
Our network of attorneys lookout for a Plea in Abeyance opportunity for your traffic ticket. A Plea in Abeyance says that you are guilty, but the points are not reported to the Utah Driver License Division and not assessed against your allowable 200 points so your license does not get suspended. If you successfully complete the probation for 6 to 12 months, the traffic ticket is dismissed.