You have just received a complaint, what do you do next?
Your court date and time will be located on the top right corner (ECitations) and the bottom right hand side (hard copy).
If your complaint is a Criminal Misdemeanor/Traffic charge or a blended case (Criminal charge with Civil traffic), you must appear in court on your court date and time.
If you received a civil traffic violation(s), you are not a Juvenile and there was no accident involved, you have three options:
- Plead responsible and pay your fine in full by mail
- Plead NOT responsible/Contest the charge by mail
- Attend defensive driving school
When you received the citation, you were given an envelope with a bond card that contains information about the options list above.
If you are a juvenile (under the age of 18), regardless of your charge(s), you must appear in person on your court date and time WITH A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN.
Enacting juvenile justice reforms
The Arizona Legislature passed Senate Bill 1197 to enact several juvenile justice reforms. This bill was signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs in May 2023. Beginning October 30, 2023, an individual may request that the court vacate (cancel) certain eligible monetary obligations imposed on a juvenile or the juvenile’s parent or guardian before October 30, 2023. Unpaid supervision fees, diversion costs, detention costs, and other monetary obligations are eligible to be vacated. Courts cannot vacate victim restitution, fines, penalties, and certain assessments. Find out more about the process and what monetary obligations can be vacated.
Please print and file with the court:
Juvenile Petition to Vacate Eligible Monetary Obligations (PDF)
If you are a juvenile and a civil judgment was entered before 10/30/2023 because the court issued a juvenile restitution order in favor of the state and it includes monetary obligations that are eligible to be vacated, the court may vacate the eligible portion of the unsatisfied civil judgment.
- Not all juvenile cases are eligible, as eligibility depends on the type of monetary obligation. There are other legislative impacts in addition to the financial changes.
- This bill does not allow individuals to ask for a refund for payments already made on a case.
- Insurance companies may still be billed for treatment provider costs that are typically billed to public or private insurance.
This bill does not allow individuals to ask for a refund for payments already made on a case.
NOTE: If you are paying your citation online you will also need to submit a responsible plea to the court in writing. By pleading responsible you agree that you are pleading responsible to the civil traffic charge(s) and do not wish to appear before a Judge or a Civil Traffic Hearing Officer. JUVENILES MUST APPEAR BEFORE A JUDGE BEFORE ANY ONLINE PAYMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED