Mississippi traffic tickets
Points, traffic school, deadlines and what a ticket does to your insurance in Mississippi.
Speeding ticketUp to $100fine, plus $90.50 or more in court costs
Traffic safety violator courseYesavailable, with limits
Insurance after 1 ticket+25%on $2,412 a year
What will my ticket really cost? Check my points
What kind of ticket did you get?
Which court is on your ticket?
State law sets a range, and the court picks the amount. Pick the court named on your ticket.
Every other Mississippi county court
Phone, pay-online link and traffic school steps for 4 more courts. Tap a county to open it.
DeSoto County662-469-8026Pays online
DeSoto County Justice Court. Your notice shows the amount.
- Address
- 3423 Industrial Drive West, Hernando, MS 38632
- Phone
- 662-469-8026
Harrison County228-867-6508
Harrison County Justice Court. Your notice shows the amount.
- Address
- 1709 24th Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39501
- Phone
- 228-867-6508
Jackson County228-769-3096
Jackson County Justice Court. Your notice shows the amount.
- Address
- 1720 Telephone Road, Pascagoula, MS 39567
- Phone
- 228-769-3096
Rankin County601-824-2665Pays online
Rankin County Justice Court. Your notice shows the amount.
- Address
- Rankin County Chancery-Justice Center, 201 North Street, 1st Floor, Brandon, MS 39042
- Phone
- 601-824-2665
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Traffic school
- For adult driving school, sign an affidavit that you haven't had a ticket in the past 3 years and pay the ticket plus $10 to the court. The driving school charges $40.
What are your options with a Mississippi ticket?
Paying is the fastest route, and it usually puts the ticket on your record. Traffic safety violator course is the main way to avoid that.
What does Mississippi law allow for speeding?
Most traffic tickets carry a $90.50 state assessment on top of the fine.[10]
Every fine on the Mississippi schedule (9)
| Ticket | State fine | With court costs |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding, first convictionUp to $100 for a first conviction, up to $200 for a second within a year and up to $500 for a third. | Up to $100[3][10] | Up to $100 fine + $90.50 or more |
| Speeding in a highway work zone with workers presentUp to $250 for a first offense. | Up to $250[4] | Up to $250 fine + $90.50 or more |
| Most other moving violations, such as failure to yield or following too closelyUp to $100 for a first conviction when no other penalty is set, plus the $90.50 state assessment. | Up to $100[3][10] | Up to $100 fine + $90.50 or more |
| Careless driving | On your notice[10] | Plus court costs |
| Reckless driving | On your notice[10][2] | Plus court costs |
| Passing a stopped school bus$350 to $750 and up to 1 year in jail. | $350–$750[5] | At least $441 |
| Texting or social media on a handheld phone while drivingA $100 civil penalty. | $100[6] | At least $191 |
| Not wearing a seat beltOnly the driver is fined, $25 at most even when passengers are unbelted. | $25[7][8] | At least $116 |
| No proof of liability insuranceIf you fix it: $0, dismissed. Show insurance in effect when you were cited.[9][10] | $100[9][10] | At least $191 |
With court costs is an estimate. $90.50 state assessment. Local court costs add more.[10] Your notice shows the exact total.
How many points is each Mississippi ticket?
Mississippi doesn't use points. Convictions go on your driving record, and the Driver Service Bureau suspends licenses for specific events such as DUI, refusing a breath test, three reckless driving convictions in 12 months, no insurance, or failing to appear on an out-of-state ticket.[2][9]
Commercial driver? Points and disqualifications work differently. How tickets affect a CDL →
When can you lose your license?
Full wording of each rule
- Three reckless driving convictions (or unvacated bail forfeitures) within 12 months: license suspension.
- No proof of insurance: suspension for 1 year or until you show proof of insurance and pay the fines.
Drivers under 21
Not published
Can Traffic safety violator course keep a ticket off your record in Mississippi?
It can help. You plead guilty or no contest, and the court holds off on sentencing.[3]
How often: Once every 3 years
Is it worth it for your ticket? Get a yes or no →
Who qualifies, CDL drivers and cost
You plead guilty or no contest, and the court holds off on sentencing. Finish a course of at least 4 hours within 90 days and the case is dismissed. Only a private record is kept to check future eligibility. If you are convicted after a trial, you get 45 days to finish the course and have the conviction set aside.[3]
Who can use it: You need a valid Mississippi license or permit, no traffic conviction in the past 3 years and no course in the past 3 years. You sign an affidavit, pay the fine, costs and assessments, and pay an extra $10 court fee. Ask by mail or in person by the court date on the ticket.[3]
Commercial (CDL) drivers: No[2] (Commercial license and permit holders can't have driving offenses deferred.)
Do school and work zones cost more?
Work zones
Speeding in a posted highway work zone while workers are present is up to $250 for a first offense. Later offenses carry double the usual maximum fine.[4]
When is your ticket due?
- Date on noticePay or respondset by the court[3][11]
Details
Pay, plead or ask for the traffic safety course by the court date on the ticket. If you miss it: The court can have your license suspended for failing to appear or pay.
- 30daysLast day to appealfrom conviction[2]
Details
Appeal a justice or municipal court conviction. If you miss it: The conviction stands and goes on your driving record.
- 90daysFinish the traffic safety violator coursefrom the court date[3]
Details
Finish the traffic safety violator course. If you miss it: The court goes ahead with the conviction.
What happens if you don't respond
If you miss court or don't pay, the court can have your license suspended until you settle the ticket. Failing to appear on an out-of-state ticket also suspends a Mississippi license once that state reports it.[2][11]
Work out your exact dates → · Already missed it?
Will an out-of-state ticket follow you home?
- Shares convictions with other states (Driver License Compact)Yes[1]
- Can suspend you over unpaid out-of-state tickets (Nonresident Violator Compact)Yes[1]
If you fail to appear on an out-of-state ticket and that state reports it, your Mississippi license is suspended. Drivers from other states may take a similar traffic safety course in their home state.[2][3]
How out-of-state tickets work →
How much will it raise your insurance in Mississippi?
One speeding ticket raised a full-coverage premium by about 25% on average in Mississippi[1], from a clean-record average of $2,412 a year.[1] If that increase stays for three years, that's about $1,809 on top of the fine.
Averages from ValuePenguin State of Auto Insurance in 2026, not a quote. Insurers differ, and many look back three to five years.
Where are the official pages?
What else do people ask?
How do points work in Mississippi?
Mississippi doesn't use points. Convictions go on your driving record, and the Driver Service Bureau suspends licenses for specific events such as DUI, refusing a breath test, three reckless driving convictions in 12 months, no insurance, or failing to appear on an out-of-state ticket.
Can traffic school keep a ticket off my record in Mississippi?
Traffic safety violator course: You plead guilty or no contest, and the court holds off on sentencing. Finish a course of at least 4 hours within 90 days and the case is dismissed. Only a private record is kept to check future eligibility. If you are convicted after a trial, you get 45 days to finish the course and have the conviction set aside. Limit: Once every 3 years
Will an out-of-state ticket follow me home to Mississippi?
Mississippi is a member of the Driver License Compact, so convictions in other member states are reported to Mississippi. If you fail to appear on an out-of-state ticket and that state reports it, your Mississippi license is suspended. Drivers from other states may take a similar traffic safety course in their home state.
How much does a speeding ticket raise insurance in Mississippi?
About 25% on average for full coverage, according to ValuePenguin State of Auto Insurance in 2026. Your insurer's rate can differ a lot from the average.
Sources
Mississippi law and DMV sources (12)
- AAMVA DLC/NRVC Member Joinder Dates (rev. April 2026), AAMVA.
- Frequently Asked Questions - Driver Service (8.26.2025), Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau.
- Miss. Code Ann. 63-9-11 (misdemeanor penalties and traffic safety violator course), Justia copy via Wayback 20250121161921, Mississippi Legislature (Justia copy).
- Miss. Code Ann. 63-3-516 (speeding in highway work zones), Justia copy via Wayback 20250217085101, Mississippi Legislature (Justia copy).
- Miss. Code Ann. 63-3-615 (meeting or overtaking a school bus), Justia copy via Wayback 20250729164644, Mississippi Legislature (Justia copy).
- Miss. Code Ann. 63-33-1 (texting while driving), Justia copy via Wayback 20250825010055, Mississippi Legislature (Justia copy).
- Miss. Code Ann. 63-2-1 (seat belts required), Justia copy via Wayback 20250814154556, Mississippi Legislature (Justia copy).
- Miss. Code Ann. 63-2-7 (seat belt penalty, 2020 code), Justia copy via Wayback 20240418183338, Mississippi Legislature (Justia copy).
- Miss. Code Ann. 63-15-4 (proof of liability insurance, 2020 code), Justia copy via Wayback 20241016032635, Mississippi Legislature (Justia copy).
- House Bill 384, 2026 Regular Session (as introduced), restating Miss. Code Ann. 99-19-73 state assessments, Mississippi Legislature.
- Rankin County Justice Court: Fines and Tickets, Rankin County, Mississippi.
- Miss. Code Ann. 63-3-501 (maximum speed limits), Justia copy via Wayback 20251126090733, Mississippi Legislature (Justia copy).
Insurance sources (4)
- State of Auto Insurance in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
- Car Insurance Rate Increases with a Speeding Ticket in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
- How Does a DUI Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
- How Much Will My Car Insurance Rates Go Up After a Crash in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).