Georgia Traffic Tickets

A Georgia traffic citation has three possible paths: pay the fine and accept the conviction, enter a nolo contendere plea to keep the violation off the public record for insurance purposes, or contest the ticket in court. Each route has different implications for your point total, your insurance, and how the case appears on your MVR.

Reading your ticket

Every Georgia traffic citation lists:

• The court date and court name (typically the State Court, Magistrate Court, or Municipal Court for the jurisdiction where the violation occurred).
• The Georgia code section cited (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-something for moving violations).
• The bond amount required to be released or to settle the matter without a court appearance.
• Whether court appearance is required.

Some violations are marked "must appear" — these include any DUI, reckless driving, leaving the scene, driving on suspended license, racing, and speeding 30+ mph over. They cannot be settled by paying the bond.

Paying the ticket

For pay-by-mail tickets, you can settle the citation by mailing the bond amount to the court clerk before the court date. Most counties also accept payment online through their court portal. Paying the bond is treated as a guilty plea by default — the conviction is reported to DDS, points go on your MVR, and your insurance company will see the violation at renewal.

Nolo contendere plea

Georgia allows a "no contest" plea once every 5 years on non-DUI traffic violations. A successfully entered nolo contendere:

• Doesn't appear as a conviction on the public MVR for insurance purposes.
• Still results in points being assigned to the driver record.
• Cannot be used by drivers under 21.
• Cannot be used on a second offense within 5 years.
• Cannot be used by CDL holders for any commercial-vehicle violation.

You request nolo contendere by appearing at the court date or by filing a written request with the clerk. Most courts grant nolo on a first offense without resistance. The fine is the same as the bond amount; some courts add a $25-$60 nolo surcharge.

Contesting the ticket

You can contest a Georgia traffic ticket by appearing on the court date and entering a "not guilty" plea. The court schedules a trial date 30-60 days later. At trial, the issuing officer testifies; the defendant may cross-examine and present their own evidence. Trials in State Court typically last 30-45 minutes. Winning means the case is dismissed; losing means a conviction at the same fine amount as the original bond, plus court costs.

Common fines

Camera tickets (super speeder, school zone)

Georgia operates a Super Speeder Law that adds a $200 state surcharge for any conviction at 75+ mph on a 2-lane road or 85+ mph on any road. The surcharge is separate from the local court fine and is collected by the Georgia Department of Driver Services after the conviction. School-zone speed cameras in some Georgia districts issue civil violations; these don't carry points but are owed as a debt and can prevent registration renewal if unpaid.

Defensive Driving Course

Many Georgia traffic courts allow a defendant to complete a DDS-approved Defensive Driving Course (Driver Improvement Clinic) in lieu of conviction or as a condition of reduced fines. The course costs $50-$95 and takes 6 hours; some are offered online. Driver Improvement Clinic completion can also reduce up to 7 points on the MVR once every 5 years — see our point system page.

For broader comparisons, see our driving safety hub.