Traffic records are the most fragmented court records in the country. A single county can have a dozen city municipal courts, several justice or magistrate courts, and a county court all handling driving offenses, each with its own clerk and its own records. Finding a ticket means finding the right court first.
Which court has the ticket
Look at the citation itself: it names the court where the case is filed. If you do not have it, use who wrote the ticket:
| Who issued it | Where the case usually is |
|---|---|
| City police | That city's municipal court |
| County sheriff or constable | Justice court, magistrate court, or county court for that precinct |
| State highway patrol / state police | Justice or magistrate court for the precinct where the stop happened, or county court |
| Federal officer (national park, military base) | U.S. District Court (Central Violations Bureau) |
Serious driving offenses are criminal cases, not traffic cases. A first DWI, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, and leaving the scene are typically misdemeanors in county court; repeat DWIs, intoxication assault, and vehicular homicide are felonies in the general-jurisdiction court. Search those in the criminal records guide.
Searching traffic cases online
Municipal courts range from full online case lookup and payment to nothing at all. Justice courts in large counties often share a public-access portal with the county's other courts, though sometimes with a separate search. To look up a citation:
- Identify the court from the ticket or the issuing agency.
- Find that court's website (city websites list the municipal court; county websites list justice courts by precinct).
- Search by citation number, driver's license number, or name and date of birth.
- Check the status: unpaid, paid, dismissed, deferred, or warrant issued.
If a ticket is old and you cannot find it, call the court. Unpaid tickets do not go away; they become warrants and license holds.
Traffic court record vs. driving record
The court record is the case file for one citation. Your driving record (motor vehicle record, or MVR) is maintained by the state driver-licensing agency and summarizes every conviction reported to it by courts, plus license actions and points. Insurers, employers, and commercial-driver programs almost always want the driving record, which you order from the licensing agency, not from any court.
Deferred disposition and driving school
Many courts allow drivers to complete a driving-safety course or a probation period so the citation is dismissed and never reported to the licensing agency. The court file still shows the citation and the dismissal. If you are checking your own history, the court record and the driving record can therefore differ.
Warrants for unpaid tickets
A missed court date or unpaid fine turns into a warrant in most states. Warrant searches for traffic matters are run through the issuing court, and some large cities and counties publish warrant lists. Read how to check for a warrant before contacting a court, because appearing in person with an active warrant can lead to arrest.
Commercial drivers
Convictions for commercial drivers are reported to the federal Commercial Driver's License Information System and follow the driver across states. The court record is still local, but the consequence is national.
Federal tickets
Citations issued on federal property go to the Central Violations Bureau of the federal courts. They can be looked up and paid on the bureau's website and are not in any state or county system.
Related guides
- Criminal court records for DWI and other driving crimes.
- Check for a warrant for unpaid citations.
Frequently asked questions
Are traffic tickets court records?
Yes. A citation is a charge filed in the court named on the ticket, usually a municipal, justice, or magistrate court, and the case is a public record of that court.
Why can't I find my ticket in the county search?
Because most traffic cases are not in county or district court. Tickets written by city police go to the city's municipal court, which has its own clerk and records system.
Is a DWI a traffic record?
No. Driving while intoxicated is a criminal offense, usually a misdemeanor in county court for a first offense and a felony in district court for repeat offenses. Search criminal records, not traffic.
How do I get my driving record?
From the state driver-licensing agency, not the court. The driving record summarizes convictions reported by courts and is what insurers and employers usually want.