Delaware Traffic Ticket Lookup

Who handles traffic tickets in Delaware

Most Delaware traffic tickets are handled by the Justice of the Peace Court (or the Court of Common Pleas where applicable); tickets offering a voluntary assessment can be paid to the Voluntary Assessment Center without going to court. Most traffic offenses are handled as criminal offenses. (Delaware Courts: Traffic FAQs (Justice of the Peace Court))

Statewide online payment: Delaware ePayment (DELJIS) (Fines payable by voluntary assessment or under a payment agreement in a participating court; search by case or ticket number and last name).

Tickets issued in some municipalities are handled by that town's Alderman's Court (for example Bethany Beach, Dewey Beach, Laurel, Newark, Newport and Rehoboth); a conviction there can be appealed to the Court of Common Pleas within 15 days. (Delaware Courts: Traffic FAQs (Justice of the Peace Court))

Deadline to respond to a Delaware ticket

If your ticket offers a voluntary assessment, you must pay the total in full within 30 days of the date you received it; otherwise you must appear in court at the time, date and place on the ticket. To plead not guilty, return the signed ticket by the court date shown. (Delaware Courts: Traffic FAQs (Justice of the Peace Court))

If you miss the deadline

If more than 30 days have passed since you received the ticket, contact the Voluntary Assessment Center at 302-739-6911. (Delaware Courts: Traffic FAQs (Justice of the Peace Court))

What paying the ticket means

Paying by voluntary assessment means paying without going to court. Points are assessed under DMV policy, except that under DMV Policy #45 a speeding ticket of 1-14 mph over with no speeding conviction in the previous three years gets no points. (Delaware Courts: Traffic FAQs (Justice of the Peace Court))

How to contest a Delaware ticket

To plead not guilty on a voluntary assessment ticket, sign where indicated and mail or fax both sides of the ticket by the court date shown; you are then requesting a court trial and must appear. (Delaware Courts: Traffic FAQs (Justice of the Peace Court))

Traffic school, deferral or dismissal

If you go to court and are eligible, the court may (with the prosecution's consent) allow probation before judgment; completing its conditions means no judgment of conviction and no points. You are not eligible if you have ever been convicted of the same offense, or if you were placed on probation before judgment for any other offense within the last five years; CDL holders are not eligible. (Delaware Courts: Traffic FAQs (Justice of the Peace Court))

Camera tickets

By law, a traffic signal violation recorded by a traffic control monitoring (red light camera) system may not be made part of your driving record or used for insurance purposes, whether you pay the assessment or are found guilty. (Delaware Courts: Traffic FAQs (Justice of the Peace Court)) More in Delaware traffic camera ticket laws.