Arizona Traffic Ticket Options: Pay, Contest, or a Class

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

Your Arizona traffic ticket options for a civil ticket are to pay the fine, deny responsibility and request a hearing, or take a defensive driving class to have one eligible ticket dismissed. Paying is the simplest, but MVD assesses points for moving violations, while the class keeps points off if you qualify and finish on time. Criminal tickets work differently, so the first step is to find out which kind you have.

Key Facts

Two kinds of tickets: moving violations are either civil or criminal. See civil vs criminal.
Three civil options: pay, request a hearing or take defensive driving. See the options.
Penalty cap: a civil traffic penalty is capped at $250, plus surcharges. See the cost math.
Surcharges add 78%: four state surcharges add $78 to a $100 penalty. See the cost math.
Ignoring it costs more: one court adds a $70 default fee and suspends your license. See doing nothing.

Civil or Criminal? Check Your Ticket First

The court’s Traffic Law page says moving violations are either civil traffic violations or criminal traffic violations. An unlawful lane change or running a red light are civil examples. DUI, reckless endangerment and driving on a suspended license are criminal examples.

The kind of ticket decides your options. A civil ticket asks whether you are responsible, and the penalty is money. A criminal ticket is a criminal charge with a court appearance.

For criminal charges, Oro Valley Magistrate Court says adults must appear in person and see a judge. Drivers under 18 must appear with a parent or legal guardian. Failing to appear results in a warrant for your arrest and a license suspension.

Your Arizona Traffic Ticket Options at a Glance

For a civil ticket, Oro Valley Magistrate Court lists three choices. Here is how they compare:

	Pay the fine	Request a hearing	Defensive driving
What you do	Admit responsibility	Deny responsibility	Take a 4 to 4.5 hour class
Points	MVD assesses points for moving violations	Points if found responsible	No points for that ticket
Timing	By the date on your citation	Ask your court how and when	Finish 7 days before court
Main cost	Penalty plus surcharges	Your time, plus the penalty if you lose	Court fee, state fees and school fee
Who can use it	Anyone with a civil ticket	Anyone with a civil ticket	Eligible drivers, once in 12 months

You pick one path. The court FAQ says you may go to court or attend a defensive driving school, not both.

Five questions that help you choose among Arizona traffic ticket options

Option 1: Pay the Fine

Paying ends the case fastest. Oro Valley says you can pay by mail, in person or online, on or before the date on your citation.

But paying means admitting responsibility. Oro Valley’s page says points will be assessed on your license by MVD for moving violations.

ADOT’s Points Assessment page lists 3 points for speeding and 2 for all other moving violations not named there. ADOT says 8 or more points in any 12-month period can lead MVD to order Traffic Survival School or suspend your license for up to 12 months.

If you want the class, decide before you pay. Paying admits responsibility for the ticket.

What Paying Really Costs

The fine on your citation is not just one number. State law sets a cap and then adds surcharges.

ARS 28-1598 caps a civil traffic penalty at $250, except as otherwise provided. Surcharges are added on top. They come from two laws:

ARS 12-116.01 adds three surcharges: 42%, 7% and 6%.
ARS 12-116.02 adds a 13% surcharge.

Together, that is 78% on top of the penalty. On a $100 penalty, these four surcharges add $78, for $178. On the $250 maximum, they add $195, for $445.

A court may add its own fees too. Oro Valley, for example, adds a $25 Court Security Fee to the fine. Its online payment system also charges an added fee.

Paying Over Time

Cannot pay all at once? ARS 28-1601 sets the rules after a judgment. Civil penalties are due within 30 days of judgment.

If that would be an undue economic burden, the court may extend the time or allow installments. Miss a payment, and the court can make the full amount due at once. It may also start collection and ask MVD to refuse to renew your vehicle registration.

A Special Case: Waste of a Finite Resource

Some speed tickets fall under ARS 28-702.01, called “waste of a finite resource.” It applies where the posted limit is at least 30 mph outside an urbanized area, or at least 40 mph inside one. You must not have been more than 10 mph over.

That penalty is capped at $15, plus surcharges. The law also says it cannot be used to suspend or revoke a license. It cannot be treated as a moving violation for insurance rating.

Option 2: Request a Hearing

If you believe you are not responsible, you can deny responsibility and ask for a hearing. Oro Valley lists this as one of its three civil options.

Each court has its own steps for requesting a hearing. Call the court on your citation, or read its website, to learn how and by when to ask.

Know what is at stake. If the court finds you responsible, you face the penalty and surcharges.

MVD then assesses points for a moving violation. If the court does not find you responsible, there is no penalty for that ticket.

A hearing takes time and preparation. You also cannot take the class after a hearing for the same ticket, since the FAQ says it is one or the other.

Option 3: Take Defensive Driving

Arizona’s Defensive Driving Program is run by the Arizona Supreme Court. When an eligible driver finishes a class with a certified school, the citation is dismissed and no points are added. The FAQ adds that your insurance rate should not go up because of that ticket.

The program has limits. The Defensive Driving Schools page says:

Your violation must be on the list of eligible violations.
You cannot have attended for a ticket issued in the past 12 months.
Only one violation can be dismissed.
No serious injury or fatal accident can be involved.
You must finish no later than 7 days before your court date.

For the code list, read our guide to Arizona defensive driving eligible violations.

What the Class Costs

The class has its own price. You pay a court diversion fee, a $24 state fee, a $45 state surcharge and the school’s fee. Court fees ran from $70 to $250 at adult courts for fees effective October 1, 2026.

Avondale City Court, for example, says you will not have to pay a fine for a charge dismissed through the class. For your court’s exact number, see our Arizona defensive driving school cost guide.

The cost math on an Arizona civil traffic penalty, with surcharges

Criminal Speeding and the Class

Criminal speeding is not automatically eligible. Under ARS 28-701.02, it covers going more than 20 mph over the posted limit. It also covers going over 35 mph approaching a school crossing, or over 45 mph in a business or residential district with no posted limit.

It is a class 3 misdemeanor. That can mean up to 30 days in jail under ARS 13-707 and a fine of up to $500 under ARS 13-802, plus surcharges.

The class is possible only with the express permission of the presiding judge. Read more in our guide to whether defensive driving can dismiss an Arizona speeding ticket.

Which Option Fits Your Situation?

No single choice is right for everyone. The rules point to a few clear patterns:

The class can fit when your code is on the eligible list, you have not attended for a ticket issued in the past 12 months, and you can finish 7 days before court.
A hearing can fit when you believe you are not responsible and you can make your court date.
Paying can fit when the class is not available and you do not plan to contest. Remember that MVD assesses points for moving violations.
A criminal charge means a court appearance. You may want to talk with a lawyer before that date.

If you are unsure about your own case, call the court on your citation.

The Option to Avoid: Doing Nothing

Ignoring a civil ticket is not a fourth option. It can cost you the most.

Oro Valley says that failing to respond by the appearance date results in a default judgment for the bond or fine amount. It adds a late and default fee of $70, which is that court’s fee. Your driver license is then suspended until the fine and fees are paid in full.

If you miss the class deadline, read our guide to a missed Arizona defensive driving deadline. It covers extensions and what to do next.

Common Mistakes When Choosing an Option

These mistakes come from the court rules and state law:

Paying before checking the class. Paying admits responsibility, and MVD assesses points.
Treating a criminal ticket like a civil one. Criminal charges need a court appearance.
Trying to do both. You may go to court or take the class, not both.
Forgetting surcharges. They add 78% on top of the penalty.
Letting the date pass. One court adds a $70 default fee and suspends your license.

For the full picture of the class, see our Arizona online traffic school ticket dismissal guide.

How Requirements Can Vary

Arizona’s defensive driving rules are set by state law and the Arizona Supreme Court, but each court handles its own cases. The total cost includes a court diversion fee that each court sets, so the price depends on the court on your ticket.

Extension allowances also differ by court, from 14 to 60 days on the Supreme Court’s list. If a judge orders in-person attendance, you must take a classroom course.

Court fees can change in April and October each year. Check the Arizona Supreme Court Defensive Driving Program and the court on your citation for current rules before you register.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my Arizona traffic ticket options?

For a civil ticket, you can pay the fine, deny responsibility and request a hearing, or take a defensive driving class if you are eligible. Criminal tickets require a court appearance.

Does paying an Arizona traffic ticket add points?

For moving violations, yes. Oro Valley Magistrate Court says MVD assesses points when you pay. A speeding conviction is 3 points on ADOT’s points page.

What is the most a civil traffic ticket can cost?

ARS 28-1598 caps the civil penalty at $250, except as otherwise provided. Surcharges of 78% are added, so $250 becomes $445 before any court fees.

Can I take defensive driving and still go to court?

No. The FAQ says you may go to court or attend a defensive driving school, not both. Once you start the class, you give up the court option.

Is defensive driving cheaper than paying the ticket?

It depends on your court and your penalty. The class costs a court fee, a $24 state fee, a $45 surcharge and the school fee. Compare that with your penalty plus 78% in surcharges.

Can I take defensive driving for criminal speeding?

Only with the express permission of the presiding judge. Criminal speeding codes are marked CM on the court’s list of eligible violations.

What happens if I ignore my ticket?

A court can enter a default judgment. Oro Valley adds a $70 late and default fee and suspends your license until everything is paid.

Can I pay my ticket in payments?

Possibly. ARS 28-1601 lets the court allow installments if paying within 30 days of judgment would be an undue economic burden. Ask the court on your citation.

Conclusion

Your Arizona traffic ticket options come down to paying, asking for a hearing or taking defensive driving if you qualify. Check whether your ticket is civil or criminal, compare the points and costs, and act before your court date.

Driving Logic’s Arizona Defensive Driving Course is coming soon. Until then, find a school certified by the Arizona Supreme Court at azcourts.gov/drive.

Sources

Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a state-approved driver improvement course provider serving Florida and other U.S. states.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Arizona defensive driving eligibility, deadlines, and fees are set by Arizona law, the Arizona Supreme Court, and each court, and can change. Check the Arizona Supreme Court Defensive Driving Program and the court on your citation for current requirements before you register for a course.