Traffic Citations

Penalty Assessments:

If you signed the Penalty Assessment box on your citation, you must submit or mail your payment, in full, no later than 30 days from the date of the citation.

Not all traffic violations can be paid by penalty assessment, and may require an appearance before the judge. These appearances are called "arraignments" or "hearings" just as they are for non-traffic offenses.

Certain traffic citations may be dismissed:

Violations for Mandatory Financial Responsibility (No Insurance), Operators and Chauffeurs Must Be Licensed ( No Driver's License), and No Registration/Registration Plate must be dissmissed if proof that the issue was actually valid at the time of the stop is presented in court.

• No registration License Plate: Proof of current registration at the time that the citation was issued.
• Operators and Chauffeurs must be licensed: Proof of your driver's license, which was valid at the time of the traffic stop.
• No Insurance (Mandatory Financial Responsibility): Proof of the insurance card that indicates that the vehicle was insured on the date that the citation was issued. The insurance company will be contacted to verify coverage.

Proof may be submitted by faxing to (575) 746-9678, mailing to 3300 W Main, Suite A, Artesia NM 88210, or by bringing it in to the Court with you. Please include a copy of your citation, so the information can be matched together.