A traffic citation has been issued for you to appear before the Washington County District Court. The State of Alabama offers an On-Line Traffic Resolution (OTR) system that allows you to see if your traffic citation qualifies to be RESOLVED before your court date. Not all traffic citations can be resolved before court and may require a court appearance. Please visit https://traffic.alacourt.gov for more information. All requests utilizing the OTR system must be made seven (7) days prior to court date; otherwise, you must appear in court on date specified on citation.
If you fail to pay or otherwise dispose of your case prior to the court date and fail to appear on your court date, a warrant may be issued for your arrest, your driver’s license may be suspended by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the fine may be increased, and any bond posted may be forfeited. The Court date on your copy of the ticket is NOT A TRIAL DATE; if you desire to plead NOT GUILTY and want a TRIAL, you must appear in court on your court date to request a TRIAL.
Tickets listed in the chart on the next page may be paid by entering a guilty plea without a required court appearance, provided you have not been convicted of two or more traffic offenses in the preceding 12 months. If you wish to avoid a court appearance and enter a plea of guilty, sign the Defendant’s plea of guilty on the back of your copy of the ticket and attach your money order or cashier’s check for the amount of fine and costs indicated and mail it to:
Washington County Circuit Clerk
P.O. Box 548
Chatom, AL 36518
You may also pay online at: Alapay.com
NO PERSONAL CHECKS. Personal checks will be returned causing a delay.
For questions or payment please contact the Alabama Traffic Service Center at traffic.alacourt.gov or by calling toll free (866) 954-9399. Cases may be paid on or before your court date with a credit or debit card by calling (877) 252-7294 or by accessing the following website: Alapay.com.
Washington County Defensive Driving School Options
If you have been charged with an offense eligible for Driving School and have not yet been approved, you can apply at https://traffic.alacourt.gov/. Request must be made seven (7) days prior to court date; otherwise, you must appear in court to make your request. You must have a non-CDL current drivers’ license to apply. Out of state driver may be required to provide a certified copy of driver's record.
Online Driving School shall be taken at https://www.idrivesafely.com/alabama/.
MUST HAVE COURT APPROVAL PRIOR TO COMPLETING COURSE!
80 OR MORE MPH REQUIRES COURT APPEARANCE!
Steps to comply:
- Successfully complete driving school by date allowed by the Court.
- Next, submit proof and pay court cost (if ordered) via the Online Traffic Resolution (OTR) website – https://resolve.alacourt.gov.
- Failure to comply by date allowed by Court will result in you losing your driving school privilege.
Processing of No-Insurance Tickets
THE DEFENDANT IS NOT REQUIRED TO APPEAR IN COURT IF THE DEFENDANT HAS PROOF OF INSURANCE BY THE COURT DATE ON THE VEHICLE DRIVEN AT THE TIME OF THE TICKET. MONTH TO MONTH POLICIES ARE NOT ACCEPTED.
For an out-of-court settlement, defendant may provide proof, in person or by mail or via the On-Line Traffic Resolution (OTR) system by visiting https://resolve.alacourt.gov, before the court date and the case will be dismissed. Proof provided 30 days after the court date will result in the ticket being dismissed upon payment of court cost. Proof cannot be provided after 6 months of the court date; the ticket must be paid in full.
*The same processing of no insurance tickets applies to no driver's license, expired driver's license, driver's license not in possession, improper tint, expired tag, equipment repairs and no medical card.
HELPFUL INFORMATION: To avoid further court appearances, Defendant should bring to court all relevant documents at the first court appearance. For example, if the Defendant did not have insurance at the time the ticket was written, but has obtained insurance, proof of the new insurance may result in a lower fine. Also, if the Defendant had insurance coverage on another vehicle and the vehicle driven at the time of citation was newly purchased, the Defendant may bring proof of insurance on the other vehicle, proof of purchase of the newly purchased vehicle described in the ticket and a statement from the insurance provider that the newly purchased vehicle was covered at the time of citation, although the Defendant had not received the insurance card.