How to Pay Alaska Traffic Tickets

In Alaska, law enforcement officials are responsible for issuing traffic tickets to road users who violate the Alaska Uniform Traffic Laws Act. Traffic tickets are notices informing offending drivers of the nature of their violation, the applicable fine, the court where the ticket is assigned, and how to respond. Traffic ticket recipients may respond by paying or disputing the ticket. To fight a ticket, the recipient would need to appear in court or request a hearing. Persons who opt to pay a traffic ticket automatically waive the right to a hearing.

If a recipient fails to respond to a traffic ticket in the stipulated time, it may result in additional fines and their driver’s license being suspended. It may also result in an automatic judgment, meaning that the court may assume that the ticket recipient is guilty. The individual may be required to fulfill the penalty applicable to the traffic violation.

Records that are considered public may also be accessible from some third-party websites. These sites simplify the research process by aggregating records from various US districts and allowing requesters perform single or multi-record searches. Users are typically required to facilitate a record search by providing the following information:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record of the person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that the person resides in or where the offense occurred.

Aggregate or third-party sites are operated independent of government resources. Thus, record availability, accuracy and validity cannot be guaranteed. Users are advised to verify information obtained from them with official custodians.

What Does a Traffic Citation Mean?

Traffic citations are official notices issued to road users who violate traffic laws. In Alaska, the type of citation issued depends on the nature of the violation. Traffic citations are issued by the local police department or the state highway patrol following the violation of local or municipal ordinances.

Citations in Alaska are issued for:

• Dismissable or correctable offenses
• Mandatory appearance violations
• Mandatory appearance infractions
• Mandatory appearance crime (felony or misdemeanor)

Citations marked as “Optional Court Appearance” may be resolved online. Recipients may also take defensive driving courses to dismiss traffic tickets and avoid getting driving record points. On the other hand, citations marked as “Mandatory Court Appearance” may only be resolved at the courthouse. Recipients are typically required to go to the courthouse on the date and time indicated on the citation.

How Do I Pay a Traffic Ticket in Alaska?

Recipients can pay traffic tickets online, in person at the courthouse, by mail, and in some cases, by phone. Acceptable payment methods differ by courts, so ticket holders should consult the ticket or contact the courthouse to determine the appropriate payment method.

Traffic tickets should be paid within 30 days of receipt. Persons who cannot afford to pay the tickets in full may petition the court for a fee reduction in exchange for community service or a defensive driving course. Such persons are required to present proof of community service or course completion.

Can You Pay Alaska Traffic Tickets Online?

Yes, offenders may pay Alaska traffic tickets online. Eligible violators may pay tickets issued by state law enforcement through the Alaska Court System’s Court View Public Access Website. Some Municipal courts also have payment portals on their websites to pay tickets issued by local law enforcement agents. Payments for tickets marked “Mandatory Court Appearance” cannot be made online.

How Do I Pay a Ticket Online in Alaska?

Interested persons can pay Alaska tickets online through the Court View Public Access Website. Each ticket contains information about the appropriate court to which payment should be made and the available payment options. On the Court View Public Access Website, users typically need to first conduct a case search. Each search requires the following information:

• Ticket number
• Driver’s license number
• Vehicle license number
• State of issue

The website provides further instructions for payments. Transaction fees may be charged for each installment.

What is the Alaska Traffic Ticketing System?

Traffic violations can be classified into moving and non-moving violations. Moving violations occur when a vehicle is in motion. Non-moving violations involve faulty vehicle equipment or stationary vehicles.

Moving violations can also be criminal or non-criminal; criminal moving violations can be felonies or misdemeanors. Felony crimes are typically punished with more than one year in state prison, while misdemeanors are punished with no more than one year in county jail. Criminal moving violation offenders may also be required to pay fines or restitution where applicable.

Apart from imprisonment and fines, criminal traffic violations (misdemeanors and felonies) may also result in criminal convictions on the offender’s record.

The Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) uses a point system to identify, control, and rehabilitate problematic drivers. Points may be applied to moving traffic violations, ranging from two to ten. Traffic violations likely to cause crashes are typically assigned higher points. Licenses of road users who accumulate up to 12 points (in one year) or up to 18 points (in 18 months) may be suspended. Driving privileges may also be revoked, and point accumulation may also increase the driver’s auto insurance premiums.

However, the Alaska DMV offers offenders an opportunity to take a defensive driving course once a year for point reduction. Such persons may also have points deducted for designated periods of safe driving. The DMV requires repeat traffic offenders to attend interviews with Motor Vehicle Hearing Officers.

How Do I Know if I Have a Traffic Ticket in Alaska?

Interested persons may request personal driving records from the DMV. Driving records contain the record owner’s driving history, including descriptions of any accidents, violations, suspensions, and tickets. Driving records may be requested online, by mail, or in-person at local DMV offices. To make in-person or mail requests for driving records, inquiring parties should submit completed Request for Driving Records forms. Completed forms can be mailed or submitted to:

DMV Research
1300 W. Benson Blvd., Suite 410
Anchorage, AK 99503

A $10 fee may be charged for each driving record request.

Driving records contain personal information, and their dissemination is guided by the Federal Driver’s Privacy Protect Act. Persons who request driving records are expected to have permissible use. Additionally, requests for third-party driving records should be accompanied by the record owner’s written consent.

How Can I Find a Lost Traffic Ticket in Alaska?

Parties can find lost or misplaced tickets through the Court View Public Access Website. Users should enter details regarding the ticket to aid in the search. Interested persons may also retrieve lost traffic ticket information by contacting the issuing law enforcement agency or the jurisdictional court. Requesting parties may also be required to provide details such as the ticket holder’s names as they appear on the ticket, the issuing date, the type of violation, or the ticket/citation number.

How Long Does a Traffic Ticket Stay on Your Record in Alaska?

The type or severity of a traffic violation determines the length of stay on the offender’s record. For example, speeding tickets can stay on the offender’s driving record for up to 12 months. Criminal moving violations may remain on the offender’s driving record for up to five years or more. DUI offenses may stay on the offender’s driving record for life.

Is a Court Summons Worse Than a Ticket in Alaska?

In Alaska, traffic tickets designated as “Mandatory Court Appearance” are summons. It may be possible to pay or resolve other traffic tickets online or by mail. However, court summons are resolved in person, at the designated courthouse. Failure to respond to regular tickets on time may attract additional fines or revocation of the driver’s license. However, failure to answer a summons may have more severe consequences. Summons are typically issued for criminal moving violations.