FAQs • Is the date on my citation the actual trial date?

Is the date on my citation the actual trial date?: No. This is an initial appearance date. On this date, you will appear before the Municipal Judge and enter a plea of guilty, in which case the violation will be adjudicated,or Not Guilty, requiring a court date to be set. Please review the reverse side of the citation for more court information.

Law Enforcement

1. I was stopped for what seemed like a long time. What was the officer doing in his car all that time?: The officer is doing more than filling out a form. License and registration checks are made via radio to the Communications Center. Like the Internet, these inquiries are subject to delay due to volume or other technical circumstances. Officers need to make these checks and try their best to conclude the traffic stop as expeditiously as possible.

2. Should I stay in my car after I am stopped, or should I get out and meet the officer?: You should always remain in your car unless otherwise directed by the officer. An officer might interpret someone suddenly exiting their car and approaching him/her as a athreat. Stay put and refrain from a lot of movement, even if it is simply to tidy up your car. The officer will come to you.

3. How long do violations stay on your record?: See Missouri's Department of Revenue website for specific violation and an explanation of the driver's license point system.

4. Does a traffic warning end up on my driving record?: No. However, warnings records are maintained by the Police Department.

5. Is there a law that says that an officer has to show me the reading on the radar or laser unit?: No. In some cases, the officer does not lock in the initial reading in order to obtain a tracking history of the speed or to identify correctly the offending vehicle. The officers observation of the violation as measured by the speed detection instrument is all that is required.

6. Is the date on my citation the actual trial date?: No. This is an initial appearance date. On this date, you will appear before the Municipal Judge and enter a plea of guilty, in which case the violation will be adjudicated,or Not Guilty, requiring a court date to be set. Please review the reverse side of the citation for more court information.

7. I lost my ticket and forgot the appearance date. What should I do?: Contact the clerk of the appropriate court in the jurisdiction where the citation was issued.

8. I have a perfect driving record but the officer gave me a ticket anyway. Why?: Decisions to cite are situational and circumstantial. The nature of the violation, weather conditions or other factors are considered before issuing a citiation. An individual's driving record is typically not a factor.

9. If I file a complaint against an officer will the ticket be dropped?: No. While the Police Department will investigate comlaints regarding the conduct of its employees, we believe that the merits of the citation should be assessed by the judiciary system.

10. I have a Missouri driver's license and received a citation in another state. Will it show on my Missouri record?: Missouri is a participating member of the Interstate Violator Compact Act, which means that if you receive a citation for a moving violation in another state, it will be reported to the Missouri Department of Revenue and may be reflected on your driving record.