Comprehensive Automotive Resources & Mississippi Legal Information Center
1 Mississippi Traffic Ticket Calculator: Complete Guide to Fines, Costs & Legal Process
This comprehensive guide provides detailed information about Mississippi traffic tickets, including exact fine calculations, court cost breakdowns, insurance impact analysis, and step-by-step legal procedures. Our calculator incorporates data from all 82 Mississippi counties and accounts for the 2026 fee schedule updates.
2 Mississippi Traffic Fine Calculator
Enter your violation details below to receive an accurate estimate of total costs. This calculator uses Mississippi’s 2026 fee schedule and accounts for county-specific variations, additional surcharges, and potential insurance consequences.
2.1 Your Estimated Traffic Ticket Costs
These calculations are estimates based on Mississippi’s 2026 fee schedule and historical data. Actual costs may vary based on: 1) Judge’s discretion, 2) Specific court policies, 3) Your driving history, 4) Exact circumstances of the violation. Always verify with the issuing court.
3 Mississippi Traffic Fine Schedule 2026
The following table details exact fines and penalties for common traffic violations in Mississippi, including corresponding Mississippi Code sections and point assessments.
| Violation Description | MS Code Section | Base Fine Range | Court Costs | Total Range | Points | License Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speeding 1-10 mph over Standard residential/ highway |
§63-3-201 | $38.00 – $42.50 | $107.50 – $147.50 | $145.50 – $190.00 | 0 | None |
| Speeding 11-20 mph over Moderate speeding violation |
§63-3-201 | $68.00 – $75.00 | $107.50 – $147.50 | $175.50 – $222.50 | 2 | Insurance impact |
| Speeding 21+ mph over Excessive speeding |
§63-3-201 | $168.00 – $188.50 | $107.50 – $147.50 | $275.50 – $336.00 | 4 | Possible suspension at 6+ points |
| Reckless Driving Willful disregard for safety |
§63-3-1201 | $100.00 – $500.00 | $147.50 – $197.50 | $247.50 – $697.50 | 4 | Mandatory court appearance |
| Running Red Light Failure to stop at steady red |
§63-3-307 | $100.00 – $150.00 | $107.50 – $147.50 | $207.50 – $297.50 | 3 | Insurance surcharge |
| No Seatbelt (Driver) Primary enforcement violation |
§63-2-1 | $25.00 | $107.50 | $132.50 | 0 | None |
| DUI – First Offense BAC .08% or greater |
§63-11-30 | $250.00 – $1,000.00 | $347.50 – $447.50 | $597.50 – $1,447.50 | 6 | 90-day suspension minimum |
4 Mississippi Traffic Citation Error Codes & Legal Procedures
4.1 Common Citation Error Codes
Mississippi traffic citations contain standardized error codes that indicate specific violations. Understanding these codes is essential for preparing your defense or payment.
SP-10 = Speeding 1-10 mph over limit
SP-20 = Speeding 11-20 mph over limit
SP-21+ = Speeding 21+ mph over limit
RL = Failure to stop at red light
SS = Failure to stop at stop sign
RD = Reckless driving
DU-1 = DUI first offense
NOL = No operator's license
NPI = No proof of insurance
ET = Expired tag/registration
CONV = Conviction - violation upheld
DISM = Dismissed - violation dismissed
NOLO = Nolo contendere (no contest)
DEFER = Deferred adjudication
JCONV = Judicial diversion conviction
4.2 Step-by-Step Legal Process
Citation Issuance & Initial Review
Officer issues Uniform Traffic Citation (UTC) with 10-day response requirement. Review violation code, fine amount, and court location. Note: Failure to respond within 10 days results in default conviction and additional $25 late fee (MS Code §63-9-11).
Response Options & Deadlines
Choose: 1) Pay fine (admits guilt, points assessed), 2) Request trial (not guilty plea), 3) Request mitigation hearing (admits with explanation). Deadline extensions require written request to court clerk with justification.
Court Proceedings & Evidence
If contesting, prepare: 1) Witness statements, 2) Photographic evidence, 3) Calibration records of radar/lidar devices, 4) Officer’s notes via discovery request. Note: Mississippi allows trial by judge only for traffic violations.
5 Insurance Impact Analysis & Point System
5.1 Mississippi Point System Details
Mississippi operates a cumulative point system where points remain on your driving record for five years from violation date (MS Code §63-1-47). Points are assessed as follows:
| Points | Violation Examples | Consequences | Duration on Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 points | Speeding 11-20 mph over, Improper passing | Insurance notification, possible rate increase | 5 years |
| 3 points | Running red light, Failure to yield | Insurance surcharge applied | 5 years |
| 4 points | Speeding 21+ mph over, Reckless driving | Mandatory driver improvement course if 6+ points in year | 5 years |
| 6 points | DUI first offense, Leaving accident scene | License suspension 30-90 days | 10 years (DUI) |
6 points in 12 months: Mandatory 30-day license suspension
12 points in 12 months: Mandatory 90-day license suspension
14+ points in 12 months: License suspension up to 1 year
All suspensions require SR-22 insurance for 3 years following reinstatement.
5.2 Insurance Premium Calculations
Mississippi insurance companies use the following surcharge schedule for traffic violations. These are in addition to any base rate increases:
0 points violation: 0-10% premium increase (at insurer discretion)
2 points violation: 15-25% premium increase (average: 20%)
3 points violation: 20-30% premium increase (average: 25%)
4 points violation: 25-40% premium increase (average: 32%)
6 points violation: 75-100% premium increase (average: 87%)
DUI conviction: 100-200% premium increase (average: 150%)
Example Calculation: A driver with a clean record paying $1,200 annually receives a 3-point violation. Their new premium would be $1,200 × 1.25 = $1,500 annually. Over three years, this equals $900 in additional insurance costs.
6 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
You have 10 business days from the citation date to respond to a Mississippi traffic ticket (MS Code §63-9-21). Response options include: 1) Paying the fine, 2) Requesting a court date, or 3) Requesting a mitigation hearing. Failure to respond within this period results in a default conviction, additional $25 late fee, and possible license suspension after 30 days.
Yes, but with limitations. Mississippi allows defensive driving school attendance for ticket dismissal under these conditions: 1) Violation must be eligible (non-DUI, non-reckless driving), 2) No tickets in past 12 months, 3) Judge approves the option, 4) Course completion within 90 days. This option varies by county – Hinds and Harrison counties frequently allow it, while some rural counties rarely do.
Ignoring a ticket leads to: 1) Default conviction after 10 days, 2) Additional $25 late fee, 3) License suspension after 30 days (MS Code §63-9-11), 4) Warrant for arrest possible after 60 days, 5) Collections action for unpaid fines plus 18% interest. To resolve, contact the court immediately – most allow payment plans for overdue tickets.
Three methods: 1) Online: Mississippi DPS driver record request ($11 fee), 2) By mail: Complete Form DL-67 with $11 fee to DPS, 3) In person: At any Mississippi DPS office. Your record shows: points, violations, suspensions, and expiration dates. Insurance companies access this same record when determining rates.
Yes, most counties offer online payment. Requirements: 1) Citation number, 2) Driver’s license number, 3) Credit/debit card (2.5% convenience fee typically applies). Systems vary by county: Hinds County uses HindsCountyMS.gov/pay-tickets, Harrison County uses HarrisonCountyMS.gov/court-payments. Not available for: DUI, reckless driving, or violations requiring mandatory court appearance.
