Frequently Asked Questions

Read the information and follow the directions provided on the back of the traffic ticket and on the fines and costs envelope you may have received from the police officer. If your traffic offense is listed on the fines and cost envelope, you may pay the ticket by mail (exceptions will be noted) within 10 calendar days of the date on the ticket. Sign the back of the ticket in the appropriate place, make your personal check, money order, or certified check payable to the 86th District Court and mail the signed ticket and payment to the court address on the front of the ticket.

For your convenience, a payment drop box is located in front of the Robert P. Griffin Hall of Justice, 280 Washington Street, in Traverse City for payments on a Grand Traverse County ticket.

Credit Card payments may be made 24 hours a day online.

If your offense is not listed on the fines and costs envelope or you have questions, contact the court in the county where the ticket was written (County is indicated on front of ticket near the middle):
Grand Traverse County Phone: 231-922-4580
Antrim County Phone: 231-533-6441
Leelanau County Phone: 231-256-8250

If you wish to provide the court with an explanation, submit the explanation on or before the appearance date and the court will mail the judgment, along with fines/costs information to the address on the ticket.

Grand Traverse County tickets:
86th District Court
280 Washington Street
Suite 114A
Traverse City MI 49684

Antrim County tickets:
86th District Court
P.O. Box 597
Bellaire MI 49615

Leelanau County tickets:
86th District Court
8527 E. Government Center Drive
Ste 201
Suttons Bay MI 49682

Read the information on the back of the ticket and call the court on or before the appearance date.

An informal hearing consists of the magistrate, the defendant and the police officer who issued the ticket. Attorneys are not allowed to participate in an informal hearing. Both individuals are placed under oath and the magistrate listens to the testimony. The burden of proving the defendant responsible is on the police officer, who is also called the plaintiff.

The plaintiff must prove by a preponderance of the evidence, or that it is more likely than not, that the defendant is responsible for the alleged traffic violation. The defendant is also entitled to testify, including having witnesses testify on his/her behalf.

At the conclusion of the hearing, the magistrate will make a determination of responsible or not responsible. If either party is not satisfied with the outcome, the case may be appealed within 7 days of the informal hearing to a formal hearing. If the decision is appealed by the defendant, a cash bond must be posted in the amount of the fine. A notice of the formal hearing will be mailed to the defendant within approximately 2 months.

A formal hearing is held before a District Court Judge. At the formal hearing, the defendant may be represented by an attorney, and the prosecutor will represent the plaintiff's case.

A waivable ticket is due to defective equipment such as a headlight out. If you have an officer sign off your ticket and return it to the court within 10 days of the issued date, the fines and costs will be waived.

Yes, the court has no jurisdiction in this area. Points are added by the Secretary of State as required by law. More information regarding points can be obtained

You must provide proof to the court that you had valid insurance at the time of the stop and provide the court with a valid certificate of no-fault insurance. If you do this within 10 calendar days of the stop your responsibility will be $25 to the Court.
If you fail to provide the court with a valid certificate of no-fault insurance, you may be responsible to pay the Court $180, plus you will owe the State of Michigan $200 for the Driver Responsibility Fee for 2 years.