Traffic Court

A traffic citation has been issued for you to appear before the Cullman 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 Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, 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 on the next page 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 Court Clerk
Cullman County Courthouse, Room #303
500 2nd Avenue SW
Cullman, AL 35055

(Please include UTC # and/or case number)

You may also pay online at: Alapay.com

NO PERSONAL CHECKS. Personal checks will be returned causing a delay.

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 on or before your court date with a credit or debit card by calling (877) 252-7294 or by accessing the following website: Alapay.com.

Processing of No-Insurance Tickets

THE DEFENDANT IS NOT REQUIRED TO APPEAR IN COURT IF THE DEFENDANT HAS PROOF OF INSURANCE BY THE COURT DATE ON THE VEHICLE DRIVEN AT THE TIME OF THE TICKET. MONTH TO MONTH POLICIES ARE NOT ACCEPTED.

For an out-of court settlement, defendant may provide proof, in person or by mail, before the court date and the case will be dismissed. Proof provided 30 days after the court date will result in the ticket being dismissed upon payment of court cost. Proof cannot be provided after 6 months of the court date; the ticket must be paid in full.

The same processing of no insurance tickets applies to no driver's license, expired driver's license, driver's license not in possession, improper tint, expired tag, equipment repairs and no medical card.

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.

Instructions for Paying Traffic Citations

Your ticket will have the date in which you will need to appear in court. All traffic tickets are scheduled for a specified Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.

You MUST either come to court on the date shown on your ticket or pay the ticket BEFORE your court date.

Your case cannot be resolved by phone and no continuances will be granted by phone. You must appear on your court date unless your attendance has been excused by the Court. The staff of the Clerk’s office cannot grant continuances.

To request a continuance you must file a written motion or request stating why you desire a new court date. This request must be filed with the Clerk’s Office (located in room #303 on the 3rd floor of the Cullman Courthouse) or by mail. The written request to continue the case must be filed at least 7 days before the court date. It is your responsibility to check with the Clerk’s office at (256) 775-4660 regarding the status of the Judge’s ruling. Filing a request for a new court date does not guarantee that your request will be granted. Any request to continue a case not filed at least 7 days before the court date is deemed denied.

If you fail to appear in court on the court date or fail to pay the ticket before your court date you may be subject to the following without any prior notice to you:

  • An alias warrant being issued for your arrest
  • Your driver’s license being suspended by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency

Tickets which may be paid without a court appearance.

Offenses

Fines and Costs
Driving on the wrong side of the road $216.00
Failure to dim headlights $196.00
Failure to stop at railroad crossing $196.00
Failure to wear safety belt $46.00*
Failure to yield right-of-way $206.00
Following too closely $206.00
Improper brakes/backing $206.00
Improper lights $206.00
Improper muffler $196.00
Improper or no rearview mirror $206.00
Improper passing $206.00
Improper signal $196.00
Improper tag/No tag $211.00
Improper tires $206.00
Improper turn $206.00
Improper window tinting $206.00
No helmet (motorcycle) $196.00
Running red light or Stop sign $206.00
Speeding (less than 25 mph over limit) $206.00
Speeding (25 mph or more over limit) $226.00
Stopping/blocking the highway $216.00
* Pursuant to Act 99-397, effective 6-9-99, no court costs shall apply to this offense.

NOTE: FINE AND COURT COSTS MAY BE GREATER IF NOT PAID BEFORE THE COURT DATE.

Please note that traffic violations not listed in the chart above cannot be paid without court appearance.

Defensive Driving School Options

Driving school may be permitted at the judge's discretion. Defendant must appear in court on your court date or write a letter to the judge prior to the court date.  To register for Driving School, you must appear in court for approval before registration.

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