What Are Mississippi Traffic Court Records?

Mississippi traffic court records comprise legal documents and case files generated during a traffic court hearing within state limits. They include records from the prosecution (and defense) of judicial hearings relating to the state's traffic violation.

Are Mississippi Traffic Court Records Public Records?

Mississippi traffic court records are generally considered public records, which means they are accessible to the general public in compliance with the public access to information law. The only exception is when a judge or the law has restricted a particular record.

Mississippi Traffic Ticket Lookup

Traffic citations in Mississippi are handled primarily at the county and municipal court level, but statewide resources also exist to assist with finding tickets. Once a citation is issued, the ticket details are typically entered into the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system or recorded directly by the local justice or municipal court. Motorists may search for pending traffic cases by name, ticket number, or case number using county-level online portals connected to the MEC.

Some courts, particularly in larger counties such as Hinds, Harrison, and DeSoto, provide online payment services that allow individuals to confirm ticket details and pay fines electronically. In areas without online access, the court clerk’s office is the primary point of contact for ticket lookups and payment information.

Failing to pay or resolve a citation on time in Mississippi can lead to late penalties, suspension of driving privileges by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS), or even a warrant for failing to appear in court. The key contact for license and ticket-related inquiries is:

Mississippi Department of Public Safety – Driver Records Division
1900 East Woodrow Wilson Avenue
Jackson, MS 39216
Phone: (601) 987-1212

Getting a Traffic Ticket in Mississippi

In Mississippi, a Uniform Traffic Ticket is usually issued to cite an offender for traffic violations. Citations are issued by law enforcement officers who, being duly sworn, deposes under oath that these were their observations of the alleged incident. The officer may fill in the ticket, which may contain the location (county or district) where the incident occurred and the day, time, and date. The officer may fill in the defendant's full name, physical address, date of birth, and other applicable biographical data. The defendant's driver's license details, as well as relevant information about the vehicle involved in the incident, may be included in the citation. The cited offense and the statute section code may be checked or listed on the ticket. In severe cases, such as Felony Overspeeding in Mississippi, the citation may reflect a criminal traffic offense instead of a routine infraction. Multiple tickets may be used if the defendant is cited for more than one offense. The citation includes a "Notice to appear in court or contact the court clerk", which details the address of the court with jurisdiction over the violation and a date and time by which the offender should respond to the ticket either by contacting the court clerk's office or appearing in designated court. The defendant may be asked to sign the ticket. The officer may also sign the ticket and include agency, unit, and badge ID before issuing a copy to the defendant.

Each county in Mississippi handles its traffic citations separately, so fines, assessments, and court fees may vary by violation and court. Fines are not listed on the ticket, and exact fine amounts are obtained by contacting the traffic court listed on the ticket. Ticket costs may also include assessment fees, additional court payments for traffic violations. They tend to vary according to the violation and court.

Mississippi does not operate a "points-based" system for driving records. However, convictions for moving traffic violations are reported to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) and are noted on the violator's driving record. Accumulating several traffic violations on a record may eventually lead to a suspension or revocation of the driver's license. Offenders who are deemed as "Habitual" may have their licenses suspended or if the offense involves property damage, bodily injury, or death. In contrast, offenses such as DUIs come with an automatic license revocation for 1 year.

Traffic offenses are typically categorized as moving or non-moving violations. Moving violations occur when traffic laws are broken by a vehicle while the vehicle is in motion. Non-moving violations relate to parking violations or faulty/missing equipment. Non-moving violations can occur in moving vehicles, but they are not reported to the Mississippi DPS, and a conviction may not be noted on the driver's record.

What to Do When You Get a Traffic Ticket in Mississippi?

Upon receiving a traffic ticket in Mississippi, the offender may either:

• Pay the traffic ticket
• Contest the Ticket

Opting to pay the ticket is viewed as a Guilty plea by the court. The defendant may need to pay off the ticket on or before the court appearance date. Convictions for traffic violations are reported to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) and may appear on the driver's record. To pay off the ticket, the defendant may need to contact the court clerk's office of the designated court to obtain the exact fine amount and other assessments and charges. Payments can be made:

• Online: Use the designated municipal or county court website (if applicable). Each court handles traffic matters separately, so payment can be made to the court designated in the citation. Online payments may require the citation number and the use of a major credit or debit card. It is also possible to obtain the total accruable fine amount online.
• Mail: A copy of the citation, along with a money order or cashier check for the total fine amount, should be mailed to the office of the clerk of the designated court. The defendant should have previously contacted the court to obtain the total fine amount due.
• In-Person: Payment can be made in person at the office of the clerk of the designated court. Prior contact may have to be made with the clerk's office to obtain accruable fines and charges.

Payment instructions can be found on the ticket, or contact the court handling the case for more details.

Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Mississippi

The court may view opting to contest the ticket as a "Not Guilty plea" and an assertion of the defendant's right to trial. To do this, the defendant may appear in court on the designated appearance date for an arraignment, where the plea may be entered. The ticket may contain information on the initial court date, location, and other relevant information for contesting the ticket. At the arraignment, the defendant may enter the Not Guilty plea, and the date may be set for the trial. The defendant might be able to meet with the prosecutor to work out a plea bargain. However, if this is not possible, the case may move to trial.

Mississippi Driving Record Check

The Driver Records Division of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) maintains driving records in Mississippi. These records provide a detailed account of a motorist’s history, including moving violations, convictions, license suspensions or revocations, reinstatement history, and current license status. Mississippi offers two types of records:

• Non-certified records, which may be used for personal review.
• Certified records serve as official documents and are required for employment, court, or insurance purposes.

Driving records can be ordered online through the Mississippi DPS Online Services portal, which provides immediate access for a $11 fee. Alternatively, individuals can request a record by mail by completing the Consent to Release Driving Record (Form DL-135) and mailing it with a check or money order payable to “Mississippi Department of Public Safety” to:

Driver Records Division
Mississippi Department of Public Safety
P.O. Box 958
Jackson, MS 39205

In-person requests are also available at the DPS Headquarters or at select driver’s license stations. Processing times vary, but online requests are typically instant, while mail requests may take one to two weeks.

Obtaining Another Persons Driving Record

Mississippi law restricts access to another person’s driving record under the DPPA, 18 U.S.C. § 2721 and corresponding state statutes. Personal driving history information is considered confidential and may only be released if the requester qualifies under one of the permissible uses defined by law.

Permissible uses include insurance underwriting, employment screening (with signed consent from the driver), litigation and court matters, law enforcement investigations, or compliance checks by government agencies.

To request another individual’s record, the applicant must submit Form DL-135 (Consent to Release Driving Record), which requires identifying details about the driver, the purpose for the request, and the driver’s signed authorization if applicable. Requests are mailed to the DPS Driver Records Division at the Jackson headquarters. Without a permissible use or required consent, the request will be denied.

Free DMV Driving Records in Mississippi

Mississippi does not provide free full driving records. All official records processed through the Department of Public Safety carry a statutory fee, the most common cost being $11 per record. This applies whether the request is made online, by mail, or in person. Certified copies may carry slightly higher fees depending on the purpose.

That said, limited information can sometimes be accessed at no cost. For example, specific county or municipal court websites allow free case searches that show traffic violations or citation status connected to an individual. Similarly, motorists can contact the DPS to verify if a license is valid or suspended. However, these options do not substitute for a full, official driving history.

What to Expect in a Mississippi Traffic Court

At the trial, both parties may present their cases and at the end of the trial, the judicial officer in charge may enter a ruling of Guilty or Not Guilty. If a Guilty ruling is entered, the defendant may have been convicted on the charges and may have to pay assessed fines, charges, and other fees. The conviction may be reported to the Mississippi DPS and appear on the defendant's driving record (which can lead to a license suspension based on driving history). If a ruling of Not Guilty is entered, then charges may be dismissed, and no fines, assessments, or additional costs may be levied against the defendant. There may be no violations recorded against the defendant. Failure to appear or missing any court date may result in additional fines, license suspension, or even an arrest warrant being issued against the defaulter.

How Do I Find Mississippi Traffic Court Records?

Mississippi traffic court records can be found online, on the website of the requisite court where the records are located. If physical records are required, the requesting party may visit the office of the court and submit an application. Fees may be applicable if copies are required and should be paid before receiving the records.

Additionally, publicly available records are accessible from some third-party websites. These websites offer the benefit of not being limited by geographical record availability and can often serve as a starting point when researching a specific or multiple records. To find a record using the search engines on these sites, interested parties may be required to provide:

• The name of someone involved, providing it is not a juvenile
• The assumed location of the record in question, such as a city, county, or state name

Third-party sites are not government-sponsored websites; record availability may differ from official channels.

What Information is Required to Obtain Mississippi Traffic Court Records?

Persons requesting access to Mississippi traffic court records should provide necessary information about the requested record, including the full name and case number. Suppose the request is made by a third party. In that case, the interested person may be required to provide state-approved and valid identification for verification and pay applicable court fees.

Are all Traffic Violations Handled the Same Way in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, the processes for handling traffic violations and infractions are the same regardless of the nature of the violation. Fines and penalties may differ from county to county, and these can be obtained from the appropriate court.

Can Mississippi Traffic Records be Sealed or Expunged?

Pursuant to the Mississippi Code Annotated section 99–19–71 (1) a conviction for a traffic ticket cannot be expunged. However, a petition can be filed to expunge the record under the Mississippi Code Annotated 99–15–123 if the case was dropped or dismissed. It may be possible to file for the expungement of a DUI- First Offense, provided 5-years have passed since the completion of the sentence and other conditions are met.

How Does One End Up in a Mississippi Traffic Court?

Drivers may appear in a Mississippi state traffic court if a law enforcement officer cites them for a traffic offense. The nature of the violation or the officer's determination indicates that a court appearance may be required to respond to the citation. Motorists may also end up in traffic court if the defendant, upon receiving the ticket, decides to contest the ticket and pleads "Not Guilty to the Charges".

Which Courts in Mississippi Have Jurisdiction to Hear Traffic Violation Matters?

In Mississippi, traffic violation matters can be heard by the Municipal Court, Justice Court, or County Court that has jurisdiction over the area where the ticket was issued. Municipal courts have jurisdiction over misdemeanor crimes, municipal ordinances, and city traffic violations. Justice or County Courts have jurisdiction over traffic offenses outside a municipality.

How to Prepare for Traffic Court in Mississippi

Preparing for traffic court in Mississippi generally requires reviewing the state's traffic laws and potential penalties for violations, including fines, license suspensions, and points on one's driving record.