Traffic Violations Frequently Asked Questions

General Information on Traffic Violations

1. When do I have to pay or contest my traffic ticket?
The full amount due for a violation or an answer of "contested" must be received by the Violations Bureau within 30 days after the disposition is entered on the violation, unless otherwise ordered by the court.

2. Will my payment or correspondence be on time if it is postmarked by the required date?
No, if you are mailing your payment or correspondence, you must allow plenty of time for mailing as the court goes by the date your correspondence is received.

3. Does a "traffic violation" case include criminal charges?
The term "traffic violation" used here means only civil, not criminal violations of the motor vehicle laws. Sometimes traffic violations are also referred to as "traffic infractions." Traffic or motor vehicle-related criminal offenses such as Operating Under the Influence (OUI), are handled through a different process and different rules apply.

4. What address do you use to send information to me?
When you contest a traffic violation, or when you send in payment for a traffic violation fine, you must include your current mailing address. The address you provide will be the address used for correspondence from the Violations Bureau. It is your responsibility to provide the Bureau of Motor Vehicles your updated address, if it changes, within 30 days of the change. The Violations Bureau will not send your address information to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. For more information please see 29-A M.R.S.A. � 1407.

Court Process

1. Can I request a jury trial?
No. Contested traffic cases are not eligible for a jury trial.

2. Can I have an attorney appointed to represent me?
No, the court does not appoint attorneys for traffic cases. You may hire your own attorney in a traffic violation case. See Get Legal Help.

3. Where will my traffic trial be held?
Traffic trials are held remotely via Zoom. The notice you receive from the court will have the date, time, and connection information for your remote trial.

4. Can I request another court date if I have received a Notice of Trial?
Yes, but your request (called a "Motion to Continue") may or may not be able to be granted.
To request by mail: Please submit your request at least 7 days before your trial date. Send your request to the Violations Bureau at P.O. Box 480 Lewiston, Maine 04243-0480. Be sure to provide a copy to the Office of the District Attorney for the county where your traffic stop occurred and where your case will be heard. See a list of Maine District Attorneys for contact information. The clerk of the court will notify you if your request has been granted.

To request online using Guide & File: Please submit your request at least 7 days before your trial date. See the FAQ section Using Guide & File in traffic cases for more information on Guide & File.

5. Can I contest one or more, but not all, violations on the same ticket?
Yes. You may do so by mail or in Guide & File. Your answer must be received by the Violations Bureau within 35 calendar days from the date the ticket was issued.

By mail: A ticket may list up to four violations. On the back of the ticket, mark the appropriate CONTESTED boxes— 1, 2, 3 and/or 4—for each violation on which you want a trial. Then, mark the appropriate NOT CONTESTED boxes— 1, 2, 3 and/or 4— for each violation on the ticket that you wish to pay. Sign, date, and fill in your current mailing address in the spaces provided. The address you provide will be the one used by the Violations Bureau. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles will not be provided with this address information and will be relying on the address you have provided to them in the past. Mail the answer to the Violations Bureau, P.O. Box 480, Lewiston, ME 04243-0480. Enclose payment for only the violation(s) you wish to pay.

Online using Guide & File: follow the instructions in the "Contest a ticket" Guide & File interview.

6. What do I need to show or prove to win my traffic case?
See Contest a Ticket.

7. Can I appeal a decision in a traffic case?
Yes.

Paying Fines

1. How can I pay my traffic ticket?
You can pay your traffic ticket online through the Violations Bureau Payment Portal, by mail, over the phone by calling1 (866) 729-8499, or in person at the clerk’s window at any Maine state courthouse.

2. What happens if I do not pay my ticket on time?
If you do not pay the full amount of your traffic ticket fine within the time allowed, your license will be suspended. If suspended, you will need to pay an additional $50 late fee for each violation, plus reinstatement fee to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to have your license reinstated. You have 30 days from the date the decision is entered in your case to pay your fine, unless otherwise ordered by a judge.

3. Do I need to sign in and/or register to pay my ticket online?
No, you can pay online without an account. Setting up an account may be useful for saving your credit card information for future use.

4. How long do I have to pay my ticket online?
The full amount due for a violation must be received by the Violations Bureau within 30 days after the disposition is entered on the violation, unless otherwise ordered by the court. If you use this service to make a partial payment for an alleged violation for which there is not already a plea or a disposition, a plea of “not contested” will be entered on your behalf and a disposition of “Judgement on Acceptance of Answer of Not Contested” will be entered. You will then have 30 days to pay the remaining balance. If the VB does not receive the full amount due within 30 days, or other date ordered by the court, a $50 late fee will be added for each unpaid violation and your license or registration will be suspended.

5. What should I do if the online payment website is not working correctly or if I receive an error?
The State of Maine Judicial Branch is unable to provide technical support to the public. Below are standard troubleshooting steps that may resolve basic issues with pages loading or error messages. If you are still unable to access the site or complete a transaction, you may also pay your ticket by mail, over the phone, or in person at the clerk’s window at any Maine state courthouse.

Make sure your device and browser are up to date:
Update Microsoft Windows
Update MacOS
Update iPhone/iPad
Update Android Phone/Tablet
Update Edge
Update Chrome
Update Firefox
Update Safari
Clear your browser’s cache:
Clear Edge Cache
Clear Chrome Cache
Clear Firefox Cache
Clear Safari Cache on iPhone/iPad
Clear Safari Cache on Mac
Try a different browser:
Download Edge
Download Chrome
Download Firefox

6. Why can’t I find my ticket online?
If you were issued a handwritten ticket, you will not be able to make a payment until the ticket is uploaded into the system, which may take up to several days. If searching by name or ticket number does not show the expected results, try searching by your driver’s license number or vehicle license plate ID.

7. Can I pay for one ticket or make a partial payment online?
Yes, when you search for your ticket, you can select one or more fines to pay. Additionally, you can make a partial payment by entering the amount you would like to pay in the Payment Amount section on the Enter Payment Amount screen. Please note that to avoid having your license or registration suspended for non-payment, the remaining balance on any violations must be paid in full by the due date.

8. Can I pay my ticket online or over the phone if I live in Canada (or another country)?
Online payments and payments by phone are only accessible to users in the United States at this time. For other options, please see the Pay a Ticket page.

9. What if my credit card is not accepted on the website?
Please note that Violations Bureau Payment Portal only accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. American Express is not accepted. Make sure that all of the required fields are filled out including your address. If using a debit card, ensure there are enough funds in your account. If you experience further issues, please reach out to your credit card provider.

10. What do I do if the dollar amount on the website is different than I was expecting?
For fines related to Violations Bureau tickets, several factors may cause the dollar amount displayed online to appear differently than what is listed on your ticket. 1) If you are paying after the due date, then a late fee may have been applied. 2) The amount on your ticket may have been misquoted at time of issuing. 3) If you have appeared in court and the fine was adjusted, that amount should be displayed. 4) If you have made a partial payment in the past, you should see the remaining balance. After considering these possibilities, if you have concerns about the amount showing, please contact the Violations Bureau at (207) 783-5422.

11. Can I pay multiple tickets or violations at the same time online?
You can make payments on multiple violations for the same ticket at once. To pay charges on additional tickets you will have to complete payment on one before going back to pay the other ticket.

12. I’m trying to pay for a company. I used the company name and it’s not showing any fines that are due. The company is suspended so I know there’s money due.
You may search by citation number or the registration plate number.

13. Can I get a receipt? How do I know if you received my payment online? 
You will see a confirmation page when you complete the transaction which you can print. You will also receive an email from noreply@municipalonlinepayments.com.

14. How do I register for an online account?
To register for an account, click the ‘Sign In / Register’ button at the top right of the page. At the login page, select ‘Register.’ Fill in the requested information and click ‘Register.’ You will receive a confirmation email.

15. How do I reset my password?
To reset your password, visit the Violations Bureau Payment Portal click the ‘Sign In / Register’ button at the top right of the page. At the login page, select ‘Forgot password?.’ Enter your email address and click ‘Recover Password.’ You will receive an email with instructions for completing the password reset.

16. What is the convenience fee amount for online and phone payments?
A convenience fee of 5% will be assessed for each electronic payment when using a credit or debit card online. A minimum convenience fee of $1.00 per transaction will be charged. Only Visa, MasterCard, and Discover will be accepted. American Express will not be accepted. For phone payments, the convenience fee is 2.89%. The convenience fee can be avoided by paying by mail using check or money order or by going to any Maine courthouse and paying by check, money order or cash.

17. What if my bank has notified me that my check was unable to be processed due to insufficient funds?
You will be sent a letter giving you 10 days to pay the original check amount plus a $20 bounced check fee. Mailed payments must be in the form of a money order, bank check or certified check. Personal checks will not be accepted. You must send your payment to the Violations Bureau, P.O. Box 480, Lewiston, ME 04243-0480.

18. Can I change my answer and pay my ticket if I have previously contested it and have been scheduled for trial?
If you have contested your ticket, you may pay online through the Violations Bureau Payment Portal or by mail any time prior to the date of your scheduled trial. However, if you do not submit a written change of answer to the Violations Bureau, either using the form sent to you along with your Notice of Trial or by submitting a letter, your case will remain scheduled and a Default Judgement will be entered on your case after the trial date.

19. Who do I make my check or money order payable to?
Your check or money order must be made payable in U.S. funds to "Treasurer, State of Maine." Please be sure to include your ticket number with your payment.

Driver's License Suspensions & Reinstatements

1. Will my license be suspended if I do not pay my fine on time?
Yes, if your fine is not paid within the time allowed, your license or registration will be suspended. Once suspended, you must pay the Violations Bureau the fine for each violation and a late fee of $50 for each violation. In addition, you must then pay the Bureau of Motor Vehicles a reinstatement fee for each violation that resulted in a suspension.

2. How do I get my license reinstated?
If your license is suspended for failing to pay a fine, you must pay the Violation's Bureau the fine for each violation and a late fee of $50 for each violation. In addition, you must then pay the Bureau of Motor Vehicles a reinstatement fee for each violation that resulted in a suspension. Contact the Bureau of Motor Vehicles at (207) 624-9000 (ext 52100) to confirm that your license has been reinstated.

3. Where can I pay my reinstatement fee(s)?
Reinstatement fees are paid to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Augusta or to one of its branch offices.

Using Guide & File

1. What is Guide & File and why would I use it in my traffic case?
Guide & File is an online platform that offers parties the convenience of being able to look up, contest, or take additional actions on your traffic case from anywhere, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Guide & File is available for all traffic cases in the State of Maine.

2. What actions can I take on my traffic violation case in Guide & File?

Contest (dispute) one or more violations and/or submit proof documents; and
Ask for a scheduled traffic trial to be re-scheduled (Guide & File Motion to Continue).

3. Do I have to create an account to use Guide & File?
If you want to contest a traffic ticket or take another action in your traffic case, you will need to create an account in Guide & File.

4. Why do I need to verify my traffic ticket number?
You will not be able to take action on your ticket online until it has been entered into the online system. Because many traffic tickets in the State are issued in paper form, there may be a processing delay from the time you received the ticket until it is available.

5. Will I be able to see information about my traffic case right away in Guide & File?
It depends on whether you received a paper traffic ticket or an "eCitation." Many traffic tickets are issued in paper form in Maine. As a result, there may be a processing delay from the time you received the ticket until it is transmitted to the Violations Bureau and available online. If you are having difficulty finding your traffic case in the online system, you may contact the Violations Bureau for assistance.

6. What is a Guide & File "interview?"
Guide & File helps people fill out and submit court forms and other documents in a case. Users do this by answering questions on a series of screens. You may also, where appropriate, upload copies of documents concerning your case. After reviewing and signing electronically, the correct court forms are generated. You may print or save your completed documents.

7. How do I submit "proof documents" in a traffic case using Guide & File?
If your traffic ticket involved certain charges— failure to provide evidence of a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit; valid vehicle insurance; or valid vehicle registration— you may upload evidence in Guide & File. Begin the Guide & File "Contest a ticket" interview and have the relevant proof document(s) handy.

When prompted, upload the proof document you have scanned and saved as a "PDF." A PDF is a file format that allows a user to share a text or text and graphic document exactly as a printed copy of the text or text and graphic document looks. If you have the ability to scan a document using a scanner or copy machine, you will be able to save the document as a PDF.

If you would like to scan your proof document(s) using a mobile device, you may need to convert another file format (such as a JPEG) to a PDF, or use a mobile PDF scanner app on your mobile device.

8. Does Guide & File accept proof documents in a format other than a PDF?
No, Guide & File accepts only PDFs.

9. Can I print copies of court forms completed in Guide & File?
Yes, you have the option to print copies of completed court forms for your records.

10. Am I required to print court forms for any Guide & File action or process?
Yes, if you are requesting that a scheduled traffic trial be re-scheduled, you must mail or provide a copy of your request to the other side in the case. You will have the ability to print a copy of your motion from Guide & File if that is the method you have chosen.

11. Who can I contact for assistance using Guide & File?
For assistance using Guide & File, contact the Violations Bureau at (207) 783-5422.

12. Can Guide & File be used to request that more than one traffic violation case that is scheduled to be heard on the same date be rescheduled?
No. Parties who are requesting that multiple traffic violation cases scheduled on the same day be rescheduled must use the Motion to Continue court form.

Maine.gov

State of Maine Judicial Branch