Financial Responsibility > Traffic Ticket Payment (Plea by Mail)

How to Respond

If you have been served/issued a traffic complaint/citation (commonly referred to as a ticket) for a motor vehicle offense, you must respond to either the Department of Safety or the Circuit Court (formerly District Court) indicated.

In order to respond to the correct agency, you will need to refer to the copy of the traffic complaint/citation that the officer would have issued/served.

If the complaint/citation did not indicate to respond to the Department of Safety:

1. Respond to or Appear at the court shown.
2. You will need to contact the court indicated directly.

Please remember that timeliness is important to respond to a complaint/citation, as failure to do so or to appear can result in the assessment of additional fees, the suspension/revocation of license/operating and/or registration privileges and/or other court sanctions, such as the issuance of a bench warrant.

Timeliness of Response

The timeliness of your response is important, as penalties will be assessed and added to the fine amount (see Fees & Fines). If your response is not received within thirty (30) days, the complaint/citation will be placed in Default Status. In addition, a $50 administrative fee will be added to the original fine amount owed.

If the checked box on your citation reads that you "do not have to come to court but must answer" the complaint to the Department of Safety within thirty (30) days from the date of issuance recorded by the officer, your response must be received at the NH Department of Safety, DMV, Bureau of Financial Responsibility.

Methods of Response

Methods to respond to a traffic complaint/citation within thirty (30) days from the date of issuance:

• Online * Plea of Nolo Contendre or Guilty only.
• Telephone at (800) 272-0036. MasterCard and VISA credit card payments only. *Plea of Nolo Contendre or Guilty only.
• Via the mail or in person. Payments and pleas of Not Guilty* may only be mailed or presented to:

  NH Dept. of Safety
  DMV - FR/PBM
  PO Box 472
  Concord NH 03302-0472

Methods to respond to a traffic complaint/citation within sixty (60) days from the date of issuance:

• Telephone at (800) 272-0036 (available 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding Holidays). MasterCard and Visa credit card payments only. *Plea of Nolo Contendre or Guilty only.
• Via the mail or in person. Payments and pleas of Not Guilty* may only be mailed or presented to:

  NH Dept. of Safety
  DMV - FR/PBM
  PO Box 472
  Concord NH 03302-0472

Methods to respond to a traffic complaint/citation on or after sixty (60) days from the date of issuance:

• Telephone at (800) 272-0036. MasterCard and VISA credit card payments only. Plea of Nolo Contendre or Guilty only**.
• Via the mail or in person. Payments and pleas of Not Guilty* may only be mailed or presented to:

  NH Dept. of Safety
  DMV - FR/PBM
  PO Box 472
  Concord NH 03302-0472

* Note: If entering a plea of Not Guilty, you must sign the traffic citation/complaint. Do not send payment for the fine at this time.

** Note: If entering a plea of Not Guilty, you must sign the traffic citation/complaint. Although you need not provide payment of the fine or $50 Administrative fee, restoration fees must be paid before your license/operating and/or registration privileges would be restored.