Payments For Model Traffic Code Violations (Summons/Complaint) and Surcharges

 

How do I tell what type of ticket I was issued, how to pay it or where to go to court?

For tickets issued by the Sheriff's Office the agency name will appear along the right hand side edge of the ticket, and the ticket number will contain an alpha letter as the third character in the ticket number. Determine which alpha letter (A, B, or C) your ticket contains and then following the example below that corresponds with your ticket:

05 A 12345 = This is a Model traffic code ticket and per the instructions on the back of your ticket, payment can be made to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. You must pay within 20 days from the date you received the ticket. After that the tickets are sent to the Douglas County Combined Courts and you must appear on the court date written on your ticket. You can not change your court date with the Sheriff's Office, you must contact the courts. The violations on these tickets fall under the Model traffic code that was adopted by Douglas County. The location of the court to appear in is typed on the front of the ticket about half way down.

05 B 67890 = This is a Colorado State ticket issued by Douglas County Sheriff's Office. Please refer to the back of the ticket you received for instructions on payment. All fees are paid directly to the State Department of Revenue, not the Sheriff's Office. There was recently a batch printed that did not have the full zip code for the Department of Revenue. If you received one the full zip code is 80243. The violations on these tickets fall under the Colorado Revised Statutes, traffic code and are typically more serious violations, but may not be.

05 C 1234 = This is a Parking ticket of which payment can be made to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. You must pay within 20 days from the date you received the ticket. After that the tickets are sent to the Douglas County Combined Courts and you must appear on the court date written on your ticket. You can not change your court date with the Sheriff's Office, you must contact the courts. The violations on these tickets fall under the Model traffic code that was adopted by Douglas County. The location of the court to appear in is typed on the front of the ticket about half way down.

Tickets issued by a municipality within Douglas County or Colorado State Patrol

The municipalities within Douglas County and the Colorado State Patrol also issue traffic tickets, however they will have a different numbering system on them. They should have their agency name printed on them as well. If you are going to court it may be Douglas County Combined Courts or the city's Municipal court. The address will be on the ticket. When in doubt please call Records at 303-660-7545.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MINORS (Persons under 18 years of age)

  • If you are required to appear in court, you MUST be accompanied by a parent or a guardian. 
  • If the driver is a minor, they MUST notify their parent or legal guardian within 72 hours of the issuance of the summons. 
  • The parent or guardian and the juvenile MUST sign the citation and mail in the fine within 20 days from the date of the violation or appear in court. 
  • The parent or guardian’s signature MUST be notarized. 
  • Sending in the form without the necessary signatures will NOT constitute proper payment and WILL require a court appearance from the parent or guardian and the minor.

How can you tell if the ticket you received can be paid to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office? 

The blue copy of the ticket that the deputy gave you has instructions for payment on the back.  If it tells you that you have 20 days to make payment and the payments are directed to: The Douglas County Traffic Violations Clerk at 4000 Justice Way; Castle Rock, CO 80109 then you are allowed to mail in payment, if it is within 20 days from the date of the violation, to the Sheriff’s Office Records Unit.  Please remember:

  • You MUST pay within 20 days
  • You MUST send in the exact amount due on the ticket by sending either a check or certified funds. Please do NOT mail in cash. 
  • You can also bring in your payment during normal business hours -  Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm. We are located at 4000 Justice Way in Castle Rock. Directions can be located on the left navigation.
  • If you mail in payment please include the blue copy of the ticket with your payment so that proper processing may occur.
  • If you do not make payment within the 20-day limit we will send your ticket to the Douglas County Combined Courts and you will be required to go to court on the date and time written on the front of your ticket. 
  • If you need to change your court date you must call the courts directly at 303-663-7200, choose option 6 to speak to a court clerk.

VALE (Victim Assistance and Law Enforcement) SURCHARGE

Pursuant to Douglas County Ordinance 999-002 there will be a surcharge of ten dollars ($10.00) for each violation on every penalty assessment.  What does that mean?  When you receive a County traffic ticket you will be assessed a $10.00 surcharge for each violation on that ticket.  Therefore, if you have 2 violations, the surcharge is $20.00 and so on. 

Where does this money go?  At the end of every month all VALE surcharge monies collected by the Sheriff’s Office for County tickets is sent to the 18th Judicial District VALE Board.  This is required by law.  The board dispenses the money by grants to programs that provide services to victims of crime.

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY SURCHARGE

Effective January 1, 2004 Colorado passed a law that requires law enforcement to collect a surcharge to supplement the Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury Fund.  The surcharge is currently $12.00 for all speed related violations.

You are required to pay any and all surcharges on your ticket in addition to the fines.