TRAFFIC CITATIONS

1. I received a traffic citation. Must I appear in court?

You only need to appear in court for "mandatory appearance violations." Some mandatory appearance violations are Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, Driving on Suspension or Revocation, No Insurance, Reckless Driving, Failure to Remain at the Scene of an Accident, etc. Note that this is not inclusive. If you have a question whether your citation requires your appearance in court, a clerk will be happy to help you.

All other traffic violations do not require a court appearance. If you wish to post bail, thereby admitting to the charge, you may either appear in person or send a check to the court for the bail amount. The Ogden Justice Court also takes all major credit cards. Some common bail amounts are as follows:

Speeding 0-10 MPH over limit	$82.00
Speeding 11-15 MPH over limit	$107.00
Speeding in School Zone 1-9 over limit	$99.50
Stop Sign/Red Light Violation	$82.00
Failure to Yield Right of Way	$82.00

If the offense resulted in an accident, an additional $30 will be assessed to the amount of bail.

If you fail to appear or respond to the citation within 14 days, an additional $50 will be added to the bail amount. If a warrant is issued, an additional $75 will be assessed. If a Utah licensed driver fails to appear in court or pay a fine on certain violations, the Utah Drivers License Division will suspend your license until you comply with the citation or court order.

If you wish to contest the charge and plead not guilty, you must appear and a clerk will give you a court date. If you request a trial, a date will be set at your initial court appearance.

2. What are the penalties for drunk driving?

Drunk driving is a class B misdemeanor for a first offense and its penalties include:

At least two days in jail; or

A minimum of 24 hours of community service

A number of fines and fees which can exceed $1,500