I just got a ticket - How do I pay it?

Look at the ticket. There is a section near the bottom of the traffic ticket that states: hearing location. Some traffic tickets are adjudicated by the Pawtucket Municipal Court, while others are adjudicated by the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal in Cranston, Rhode Island. If the court location states Pawtucket Municipal Court, the ticket can be paid anytime prior to the court date listed on the ticket. You can pay the ticket in person, by mail, by credit card online at Pay Bill Online, or you can call our toll free number at 1-866-547-2312.

The hours for payment in person are:

• Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Thursdays 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

If the court location is R.I.T.T. (Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal) and there is a fine (amount) listed on the ticket, you have eighteen days from the date of the violation to pay it. You can pay the violation by mail following the instructions on the ticket or you can Pay Bill Online. If your ticket states "HEARING," you cannot just pay the ticket; rather a hearing is required, and you MUST appear on the date/time listed. If you cannot appear at that date/time, you may call the court clerk to request an alternate date/time.

If you receive a “summons” to appear in District Court, the violation cannot be paid by mail and you must appear at the 6th District Court, One Dorrance Street, Providence, RI on the date and time listed on the ticket.

How much are court costs?

Court costs are $35.

How much are the fines?

Fines vary, depending on the offense. The amount of the fine is often stated on the ticket. Frequent fines are listed below. If you pay the fine directly without coming to court, no court costs are assessed. If you use the Court, Court costs of $35 will be assessed. The Municipal COurt is funded, in part, by those who use it.

• GDS Dismissal                                                $25 + $35 court costs = $60
• Speeding, first offense:                                    $95 + $35 court costs = $130
• Speeding, second offense within one year:      $195 + $35 court costs = $230
• Stop Sign:                                                        $85 + $35 court costs = $120
• Inspection:                                                       $85 + $35 court costs = $120

[May be dismissed, if corrected in a timely fashion and if the violation has not been occurring for more than 3 months]

• Driving without Evidence of Registration:         $85 + $35 court costs = $120
• Seat Belt violation:                                           $40 + $35 court costs = $75

I want to contest a ticket - How do I do that?

If you wish to contest a ticket, meaning that you feel you are not guilty of the violation, do not pay the ticket. Rather, please appear at the date/time and court location listed on your ticket.  At that time, you may plead “not guilty” at the arraignment. If you are unable to appear on the date/time listed click here for directions on how to reschedule.

I need to reschedule my court date - What do I do?

To reschedule your court date, please contact the Pawtucket Municipal Court clerk at 401-727-9100, extension 739, 822 or 824. A court clerk will assist you in rescheduling your court date/time. The hours the clerks are available are Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

I accidentally missed my court date/trial date - What do I do?

If you accidentally miss a court date or trial date, it is very important that you contact the Municipal Court Clerk as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may be found guilty by default. Your license may be suspended, and you may well incur substantial additional fines/costs. Call the Pawtucket Municipal Court Clerk at 401-727-9100, extension 739, 822 or 824 for advice about your situation.

I received a letter in the mail entitled "Warrant Squad" - What does this mean?

If you receive a letter in the mail entitled "Warrant Squad," it means that you failed to pay a parking ticket or another non-traffic related city ordinance (i.e. loud music, unlicensed dog, etc.), and the Police Department’s Warrant Squad is attempting to locate you. If you received such a letter, you must contact the Municipal Court at 401-727-9100, extensions 739, 822 or 824. Please call between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. - Monday thru Friday.

I received a letter in the mail entitled "Notice of Action" - What does this mean?

If you receive a letter in the mail entitled "Notice of Action," it means you have failed to appear in court or you have failed to pay a fine for a traffic violation. If you received this letter, your license is about to be suspended. Please contact Municipal Court, as soon as possible, at 401-727-9100, extensions 739, 822 or 824. Please call between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday. All fines that are the subject of suspension notices must be paid in cash or with a bank check.

When do I need to get my car off the street for Street Cleaning/Sweeping?

The City of Pawtucket conducts street sweeping/cleaning from April 1st to October 31st each year, excluding weekends & holidays. Sweeping is done for each street on the day of recycling pickup. On those days, all vehicles must be off of the street by 7am to enable the street sweeper to clean the street.  Vehicles may be parked on the street on that day only after the Street Sweeper has cleaned the street. Please be advised that the police officer may be as much as 30 minutes behind the street sweeper.

When do I need to get my car off the street for a Snow Storm?

Between December 1st and April 1st, the City of Pawtucket will declare a winter storm emergency if there is a prediction of two or more inches of snow. At that time, a parking ban will be put in effect on all city streets. The city will notify all city residents of the existence of the parking ban prior to its beginning. The fact of the parking ban will be posted on all local radio and television stations and on this website. You can also call the police station at 401-727-9100, extension 888 (the auto attendant) to check on a parking ban. Additionally, you can register to receive an automated call to your cell phone or land line, notifying you when the parking ban will go into effect and when it will end. You can register for this automated call service online through PawtucketPolice.com:CodeRed.

Should I pay the snow storm parking violation, or should I fight it in court?

During a snow storm, the roads must be free of cars in order to facilitate plowing for the passage of emergency and regular vehicles. Cars that are unlawfully parked during a snow storm will be ticketed, and the Pawtucket City Council has set the fine at $100. If you are guilty of parking during a snow storm when parking has been banned, the Judge has no discretion regarding the fine set by the City Council. If you are guilty, you must pay the fine. Dismissals are granted only in very limited circumstances where the owner of a vehicle shows exigent circumstances or dire need.

There is a discrepancy on an accident report I made - Whom do I contact?

Contact Pawtucket Police Sargent David Connors at 401-727-9100, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday.

Drivers are speeding or committing violations on my street - Whom do I contact?

Contact Pawtucket Police Sargent David Connors at 401-727-9100. Please call between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday.

I want to make an appointment to get my car seat installed - Whom do I contact?

Contact Sargent David Connors  at 401-727-9100, EXT 735. Please call between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday.