A traffic citation has been issued for you to appear before the Cherokee County District Court. 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 Department of Public Safety, 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 below 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:

District Clerk
100 Main Street Room 203
Centre, AL 35960

NO PERSONAL CHECKS. Personal checks will be returned causing a delay and late charges being assessed. Your signed plea of guilty and money order must reach the Clerk’s office before your court date. If it does not, a warrant may be issued for your arrest and your driver’s license may be suspended by the Department of Public Safety, all without further notice to you.

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 with a credit or debit card by calling (877) 252-7294.

Processing of No-Insurance Tickets

THE DEFENDANT IS NOT REQUIRED TO APPEAR IN COURT IF THE DEFENDANT DID HAVE LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERING THE VEHICLE DRIVEN AT THE TIME THE TICKET WAS WRITTEN AND IF THE DEFENDANT CONCLUDES THE MATTER BEFORE THE COURT DATE IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED BELOW:

For an out-of court settlement, Defendant may show proof of insurance, or mail proof of insurance, valid before date of citation, to the Clerk of Court and request for dismissal prior to the assigned court date. If the Defendant appears at the Clerk's office to provide proof, defendant should bring the original proof of insurance and a copy of proof of insurance to leave with the Clerk. Defendant may mail proof of insurance and court costs of $183.50 to: Dwayne Amos, Clerk of Court, 100 Main Street Room 203, Centre, Alabama 35960. Payment should be made by cashier's check or money order. NO PERSONAL CHECKS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

IF THE CASE IS NOT CONCLUDED BY THE COURT DATE, THE DEFENDANT MUST APPEAR IN COURT. IF THE DEFENDANT DID NOT HAVE LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERING THE VEHICLE DRIVEN AT THE TIME THE TICKET WAS WRITTEN, THE DEFENDANT MUST APPEAR IN COURT OR PAY THE TICKET IN FULL BEFORE THE HEARING.

Court appearance is required on the assigned court date if Defendant desires a trial. Court appearance is required if the Defendant did not have liability insurance specifically covering the vehicle driven at the time the ticket was written.

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.