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South Dakota traffic tickets

Points, traffic school, deadlines and what a ticket does to your insurance in South Dakota.

Speeding ticket$97.50–$232.50state schedule
License at risk15 ptsin 12 months
Traffic schoolNo
Insurance after 1 ticket+22%on $2,352 a year

What will my ticket really cost? Check my points

What kind of ticket did you get?

Which court is on your ticket?

One statewide schedule sets most fines. Pick the court named on your ticket.

South Dakota county courts

Phone, pay-online link and traffic school steps for 5 courts. Tap a county to open it.

Brookings County605-688-4200Pays online

Brookings County Clerk of Courts (Third Judicial Circuit, magistrate court). Fines follow the South Dakota statewide schedule.

Address
314 6th Avenue, Suite 6, Brookings, SD 57006-2085
Phone
605-688-4200
Hours
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Pay or look up your ticket ↗ ujs.sd.gov ↗

Brown County605-626-2451Pays online

Brown County Clerk of Courts (Fifth Judicial Circuit, magistrate court). Fines follow the South Dakota statewide schedule.

Address
101 SE 1st Avenue, Aberdeen, SD 57401 (mail: PO Box 1087, Aberdeen, SD 57402-1087)
Phone
605-626-2451
Hours
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Pay or look up your ticket ↗ ujs.sd.gov ↗

Lincoln County605-836-1990Pays online

Lincoln County Clerk of Courts (Second Judicial Circuit, magistrate court). Fines follow the South Dakota statewide schedule.

Address
104 N Main Street, Canton, SD 57013-1732
Phone
605-836-1990
Hours
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Pay or look up your ticket ↗ ujs.sd.gov ↗

Minnehaha County605-367-5900Pays online

Minnehaha County Clerk of Courts (Second Judicial Circuit, magistrate court). Fines follow the South Dakota statewide schedule.

Address
425 N. Dakota Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104-2470
Phone
605-367-5900
Hours
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Pay or look up your ticket ↗ ujs.sd.gov ↗

Pennington County605-394-2570Pays online

Pennington County Clerk of Courts (Seventh Judicial Circuit, magistrate court). Fines follow the South Dakota statewide schedule.

Address
315 St Joseph St #5, Rapid City, SD 57701 (mail: PO Box 230, Rapid City, SD 57709-0230)
Phone
605-394-2570
Hours
8:00 a.m. to 4:55 p.m., Monday through Friday

Pay or look up your ticket ↗ ujs.sd.gov ↗

What are your options with a South Dakota ticket?

Paying is the fastest route, and it usually puts the ticket on your record. Here is every route South Dakota offers, and what each one changes.

  1. Pay the ticket

    Pay the total on the ticket by the date shown, online through UJS ePayments, by mail or at the Clerk of Courts. New cases can take up to 14 days to appear online.

    What it does: You are convicted and any points for the offense go on your record. You don't have to go to court.[4][15][16]

    Cost: The total on the ticket. Online card payments can be split, with $25 as the smallest payment.

  2. Plead not guilty in court

    Go to court on the date on the ticket and tell the magistrate you plead not guilty. The court sets a trial date.

    What it does: If you are found not guilty, nothing goes on your record. If you are found guilty, the judge sets the fine within the legal maximum and points follow.[7][13][15]

  3. Ask for time to pay

    Ask the court for an extension before the due date. If it agrees, you sign a payment plan at the Clerk of Courts office.

    What it does: Keeps you from a license suspension for nonpayment while you pay over time.[4][15]

What does the South Dakota state schedule charge for speeding?

1–5 mph over$97.50[4]
6–10 mph over$117.50[4]
11–15 mph over$137.50[4]
16–20 mph over$157.50[4]
21–25 mph over$177.50[4]
26+ mph over$232.50[4]

The scheduled total adds $78.50 in court costs to the fine for state traffic misdemeanors: $50 liquidated costs, a $23.50 court automation surcharge and a $5 victim compensation surcharge.[4][23]

Every fine on the South Dakota schedule (37)
TicketYou pay
Speeding, 1–5 mph overPrinted as: Speeding, 1 to 5 mph over the limitSame amount on interstates, other state highways, four-lane rural highways and city or county roads.$97.50[4]
Speeding, 6–10 mph overPrinted as: Speeding, 6 to 10 mph over the limit$117.50[4]
Speeding, 11–15 mph overPrinted as: Speeding, 11 to 15 mph over the limit$137.50[4]
Speeding, 16–20 mph overPrinted as: Speeding, 16 to 20 mph over the limit$157.50[4]
Speeding, 21–25 mph overPrinted as: Speeding, 21 to 25 mph over the limit$177.50[4]
Speeding, 26+ mph overPrinted as: Speeding, 26 mph or more over the limit$232.50[4]
School zone speeding, 1–5 mph overPrinted as: School zone speeding, 1 to 5 mph over the limit$112.50[4]
School zone speeding, 6–10 mph overPrinted as: School zone speeding, 6 to 10 mph over the limit$152.50[4]
School zone speeding, 11–15 mph overPrinted as: School zone speeding, 11 to 15 mph over the limit$192.50[4]
School zone speeding, 16–20 mph overPrinted as: School zone speeding, 16 to 20 mph over the limit$232.50[4]
School zone speeding, 21–25 mph overPrinted as: School zone speeding, 21 to 25 mph over the limit$272.50[4]
School zone speeding, 26+ mph overPrinted as: School zone speeding, 26 mph or more over the limit$382.50[4]
Work zone speeding, 1–5 mph overPrinted as: Construction zone speeding, 1 to 5 mph over the limit$116.50[4]
Work zone speeding, 6–10 mph overPrinted as: Construction zone speeding, 6 to 10 mph over the limit$156.50[4]
Work zone speeding, 11–15 mph overPrinted as: Construction zone speeding, 11 to 15 mph over the limit$196.50[4]
Work zone speeding, 16–20 mph overPrinted as: Construction zone speeding, 16 to 20 mph over the limit$236.50[4]
Work zone speeding, 21–25 mph overPrinted as: Construction zone speeding, 21 to 25 mph over the limit$276.50[4]
Work zone speeding, 26+ mph overPrinted as: Construction zone speeding, 26 mph or more over the limit$386.50[4]
Failure to obey traffic control device (red light)$132.50[4]
Failure to stop at stop sign$132.50[4]
Violation of right of way$132.50[4]
Failure to yield at yield sign$132.50[4]
Use of a mobile electronic device while driving$178.50[4]
Illegal lane changing$132.50[4]
Following too closely$132.50[4]
Illegal U-turn$132.50[4]
Careless driving$132.50[4]
Passing in a no passing zone$132.50[4]
Move over law for stopped emergency or service vehicles$348.50[4]
Expired validation sticker$132.50[4]
No valid driver's license$132.50[4]
Driving while license suspended$282.50[4]
Open alcoholic beverage container in a vehicle$132.50[4]
Not wearing a seat beltA petty offense.$25[4][22][23]
Failure to maintain insurance or other financial responsibilityNot on the mail-in schedule, so you must see a magistrate.Up to $500[4][19][20][18]
Passing a stopped school bus with red lights flashingA Class 1 misdemeanor that is not on the mail-in schedule, so you must go to court.Up to $2,000[21][20][4]
Reckless drivingA Class 1 misdemeanor that needs a court appearance.Up to $2,000[4][20]

How many points is a speeding ticket in South Dakota?

All 11 point values
  • Other moving offenses (for example careless driving, following too closely, illegal turns)2 pts[5][17]
  • Speeding0 pts[5][17]
  • No seat belt0 pts[8][22]
How points work in South Dakota

DPS adds points when you are convicted of a moving violation. Speeding, seat belt, parking and equipment tickets add none. 15 points in 12 months or 22 points in 24 months can bring a suspension. When one stop leads to several convictions, only the offense with the most points counts.[2][5][8][17]

Commercial driver? Points and disqualifications work differently. How tickets affect a CDL →

When can you lose your license?

  1. 15 ptsin 12 monthsSuspension[2][3][6]
  2. 22 ptsin 24 monthsSuspension[2][3][6]
Full wording of each rule
  • 15 points in 12 months: Suspension: 60 days for the first, 6 months for the second, 1 year for the third or later.
  • 22 points in 24 months: Suspension: 60 days for the first, 6 months for the second, 1 year for the third or later.
  • Half the points needed for suspension: DPS may send a warning letter.
  • Not paying a fine or not doing what a citation requires: DPS can suspend your license.

Getting your license back after a suspension costs $75 in South Dakota, before any course or court costs.[9][10]

Drivers under 21

Drivers under 16 with a permit get a 30-day suspension for a first Class 2 misdemeanor traffic conviction and 180 days, or until age 16 if longer, for a second one or any Class 1 misdemeanor. Drivers under 18 caught driving with no permit or license face the same suspensions.[18]

Can traffic school keep a ticket off your record in South Dakota?

No.

Is it worth it for your ticket? Get a yes or no →

Who qualifies, CDL drivers and cost

Not published: Not applicable. South Dakota has no statewide course that removes points or dismisses a ticket.

Who can use it: Not confirmed: Not applicable.

Commercial (CDL) drivers: Not confirmed: Not applicable.

Do school and work zones cost more?

School zones

Higher fines on their own scale. A school zone speeding fine runs from $34 at 1 to 5 mph over to $304 at 26 mph or more over, plus $78.50 in court costs. The school zone limit is 15 mph during recess and when children arrive or leave.[4][12]

Work zones

Doubled when workers are present. The construction zone fine runs from $38 at 1 to 5 mph over to $308 at 26 mph or more over, plus $78.50 in court costs. Signs before the zone must warn that fines double.[4][11]

When is your ticket due?

  1. Date on noticePay or respondset by the court[7][13][15]
    Details

    Pay the ticket or appear in court by the date on the ticket. If you miss it: Breaking your written promise to appear is a separate misdemeanor. The court can issue a warrant and DPS can suspend your license.

  2. 30daysLast day to appealfrom conviction[14]
    Details

    Appeal a conviction. If you miss it: After 30 days the judgment stands.

What happens if you don't respond

If you sign the promise to appear and then skip court, that is a Class 2 misdemeanor of its own, even if the first charge is later dropped. The court can issue a bench warrant and charge $10 for it. DPS can also suspend your license for not paying a fine or not doing what the citation requires.[7][13]

Work out your exact dates → · Already missed it?

Will an out-of-state ticket follow you home?

South Dakota shares tickets with other states through the Driver License Compact, and DPS adds points to a resident's record for out-of-state convictions as if they happened in South Dakota. A nonresident may have to post bond in the scheduled amount before release. Ignoring a ticket from a Nonresident Violator Compact state can also get a South Dakota license suspended.[1][7][8][13]

How out-of-state tickets work →

How much will it raise your insurance in South Dakota?

One speeding ticket raised a full-coverage premium by about 22% on average in South Dakota[1], from a clean-record average of $2,352 a year.[1] If that increase stays for three years, that's about $1,552 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 South Dakota?

DPS adds points when you are convicted of a moving violation. Speeding, seat belt, parking and equipment tickets add none. 15 points in 12 months or 22 points in 24 months can bring a suspension. When one stop leads to several convictions, only the offense with the most points counts.

How many points before your license is at risk in South Dakota?

15 points in 12 months: Suspension: 60 days for the first, 6 months for the second, 1 year for the third or later.

Is there traffic school for tickets in South Dakota?

South Dakota has no traffic school option that removes a ticket from your record.

Will an out-of-state ticket follow me home to South Dakota?

South Dakota is a member of the Driver License Compact, so convictions in other member states are reported to South Dakota. South Dakota shares tickets with other states through the Driver License Compact, and DPS adds points to a resident's record for out-of-state convictions as if they happened in South Dakota. A nonresident may have to post bond in the scheduled amount before release. Ignoring a ticket from a Nonresident Violator Compact state can also get a South Dakota license suspended.

How much does a speeding ticket raise insurance in South Dakota?

About 22% 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

South Dakota law and DMV sources (24)
  1. AAMVA DLC/NRVC Member Joinder Dates (rev. April 2026), AAMVA.
  2. SDCL 32-12-49.2 Point accumulation subjecting license to suspension, South Dakota Legislature.
  3. ARSD 61:18:02:10 Suspension based on point accumulation, South Dakota Legislature.
  4. FY27 Fine and Bond Schedule for Use by Clerk Magistrates, South Dakota Unified Judicial System.
  5. SDCL 32-12-49.1 Point system for offenses, number of points charged, South Dakota Legislature.
  6. SDCL 32-12-49.3 Suspension based on licensee's record, South Dakota Legislature.
  7. SDCL 32-12-49 Suspension, revocation or cancellation after opportunity for hearing, grounds, South Dakota Legislature.
  8. ARSD ch. 61:18:02 Point accumulation (61:18:02:02 to 61:18:02:06), South Dakota Legislature.
  9. SDCL 32-12-47.1 Renewal or restoration after suspension, revocation or disqualification, fee, South Dakota Legislature.
  10. SDCL 32-12-16 Fee for original, renewal, duplicate, or changed license, South Dakota Legislature.
  11. SDCL 32-25-19.1 Limited speed zones, double fine with workers present, South Dakota Legislature.
  12. SDCL 32-25-14 Speed limit in school zones, South Dakota Legislature.
  13. SDCL 32-33-2 Procedure on arrest of violator, promise to appear (with 32-33-2.2 bench warrant), South Dakota Legislature.
  14. SDCL 23A-32-15 Time of taking appeal, South Dakota Legislature.
  15. Frequently Asked Questions: Fines, Costs, Tickets, South Dakota Unified Judicial System.
  16. UJS ePayments, South Dakota Unified Judicial System.
  17. South Dakota Point System, South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
  18. Revoked or Suspended Licenses, South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
  19. SDCL 32-35-113 Maintenance of financial responsibility, South Dakota Legislature.
  20. SDCL 22-6-2 Misdemeanor classes and penalties, South Dakota Legislature.
  21. SDCL 32-32-6 Amber or red signal, motorist duty to slow or stop for school bus, South Dakota Legislature.
  22. SDCL 32-38-5 Seat belt enforcement, violation as petty offense (with 32-38-1), South Dakota Legislature.
  23. SDCL 23-1A-22 Petty offense judgment amount, South Dakota Legislature.
  24. Court Finder, South Dakota Unified Judicial System.
Insurance sources (4)
  1. State of Auto Insurance in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
  2. Car Insurance Rate Increases with a Speeding Ticket in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
  3. How Does a DUI Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
  4. How Much Will My Car Insurance Rates Go Up After a Crash in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).