Connecticut Traffic Tickets

Connecticut routes most traffic citations through the Centralized Infractions Bureau (CIB), a statewide processing office that handles infractions and minor misdemeanors by mail. The CIB system streamlines low-level violations — there's no court appearance for the routine speeding ticket — but it puts the burden on the cited driver to act within 30 days of the citation date.

How the CIB process works

When an officer issues a Connecticut infraction citation, a copy is forwarded to the CIB. The cited driver has three response options within 30 days of the citation date:

• Pay the ticket (plea of nolo contendere) — the simplest option. Pay online, by mail, or by phone. The plea is treated as a no-contest, the conviction is entered, and points (if any) are added to the driver's record.
• Plead not guilty — request a court date in the appropriate Geographical Area court. The case is set for trial.
• Request a hearing without entering a plea — request a Pretrial Hearing where a state's attorney may negotiate the charge.

Failure to respond within 30 days results in entry of a default judgment — automatic conviction at the listed fine plus a $25 default surcharge. Worse, an unanswered citation triggers a hold on the driver's license and registration, which can prevent renewal and trigger eventual suspension.

Common ticket fines

The fine schedule for Connecticut infractions varies by offense:

• Speeding 1-15 mph over: $158 base fine.
• Speeding 16-25 mph over: $204 base fine.
• Speeding 26-30 mph over: $300+ fine plus 2 points.
• Speeding 30+ mph over: Misdemeanor, court appearance required.
• Failure to obey stop sign or signal: $204 + 3 points.
• Following too closely: $204 + 4 points.
• Cell phone use while driving (handheld): $200 first offense, $375 second, $625 third.
• Seat belt violation (driver): $92.

Each fine includes mandatory state surcharges (typically about 25% on top of the base) — the figures listed are roughly inclusive of those surcharges.

Pretrial Hearing

Connecticut allows the driver to request a Pretrial Hearing as a middle path between paying outright and going to full trial. At the Pretrial Hearing, the prosecutor reviews the citation, considers any clean-record argument, and may offer:

• Reduction to a non-moving infraction (no points, lower fine).
• Continuance with conditions (no further violations for 6 months in exchange for dismissal).
• Dismissal in cases of officer error or procedural defect.

Most first-time defendants with clean records are offered some form of reduction at Pretrial.

Going to trial

If the driver pleads not guilty and rejects any pretrial offer, the case is set for trial in the appropriate Geographical Area court. The state must prove the violation beyond a reasonable doubt — the standard for Connecticut infractions is the same as for misdemeanors. The cited driver may represent themselves, hire counsel, or appear with a public defender for misdemeanor (rather than infraction) charges. Most contested infractions resolve at trial within 90-120 days of the not-guilty plea.

Connecticut traffic school

Connecticut does not offer a state-administered traffic school program for routine infractions that would dismiss the ticket or remove points. Some private defensive-driving courses are recognized for insurance discount purposes, but they do not affect the driver's CT DMV record or the points associated with a conviction. The only way to avoid points after a conviction in Connecticut is to win at trial or negotiate a reduction at Pretrial.

Out-of-state drivers cited in Connecticut

Drivers cited while traveling through Connecticut have the same 30-day response window. The CIB sends the citation to the home-state DMV through the Driver License Compact, and most home states post the conviction at the equivalent point value. Failure to respond can trigger registration and license holds in both Connecticut and the driver's home state. See CT driving records if you need a certified abstract for a court out of state.

For points consequences, see CT point system. For insurance impact, see CT insurance.