How to Pay Court Costs Online
Getting a traffic ticket, civil fine or criminal fine is no fun, but at least paying the penalty is easier than it used to be. Instead of making citizens stand in line at city hall or the courthouse, most jurisdictions now offer online payment for some fines. It's up to the individual to make sure the site is legitimate and the payment will arrive on time.
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Instructions
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Check whether online payment is available in your locality. This information might be included in the payment instructions on the back of the citation, or you may need to call the city clerk (for a parking-ticket type fine) or clerk of the courts (for a civil, criminal or traffic fine).
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Type the URL (web address) into your browser.
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Follow the site's directions for payment processing. Some sites process payments themselves, while others use third-party services. Sites vary as to which types of credit/debit cards they will accept.
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Print the confirmation page and save it for your records. The page may contain a confirmation number, as well as your name, date and amount paid.
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Tips & Warnings
Allow several business days for your payment to clear. Though some payments post immediately or almost immediately, others might take several days to process. To ensure timely payment, pay your fine at least a week before it is due.
Make payments only through the site listed on your ticket, the site address you received from the clerk's office or links posted on those sites. Paying a court fine should not require you to give personal information such as your Social Security number. Usually it requires only the citation number and the number and expiration date of the credit card you are using.
