ABA Family Legal Guide

Automobiles

Your Automobile and the Police

Speeding and Other Offenses

What kind of information is included on a traffic ticket?

The color, model, and registration of your vehicle, and the date, time, and place of the alleged offense are provided on the ticket. You will probably also find the specific violation with which you have been charged (if it's a parking meter offense, the meter number as well), the officer's name and badge number, the fine schedule, and a notice of your ability to have a hearing to contest the ticket. Each jurisdiction has its own form. If the officer includes incorrect information in writing the ticket, such mistakes may provide you with a defense against the citation.