What Are Oklahoma Traffic Court Records?

Oklahoma traffic court records refer to all legal documentation, including transcripts and logs from traffic court proceedings within the State. These include case files, evidence notes, and other pertinent records regarding the adjudication of moving and non-moving violations under the state's motor vehicle code.

Are Oklahoma Traffic Court Records Public Records?

All records of proceedings from traffic court in Oklahoma are identified as public records, available to be reviewed by members of the general public under the public access to information law. Records that have been restricted from public access by a court order or the law are exempt.

Getting a Traffic Ticket in Oklahoma

Getting cited for an Oklahoma traffic violation and infraction by a law enforcement officer may result in you being issued a Uniform Violations Complaint ticket. This legal document serves as a complaint and charges you with violating the traffic statutes/ordinances in Oklahoma. It represents a complaint by the officer against the defendant and a sworn statement regarding the incident as observed by the officer. The ticket may indicate which court (district or municipal) you are being charged in. It may indicate the alleged incident's date, time, and location. It may list the defendant's name, address, and other required bio-data. The defendant's driving license details and vehicle particulars may be noted. The offense/violation the defendant is accused of may be noted along with the statute/ordinance section he is charged with violating.

The officer may sign the ticket indicating his ID number and agency. A court appearance date, time, and location may be recorded. The back of the ticket may contain details about responding to the ticket. Depending on the ticket that was received, a fine amount may be indicated on the ticket. If the box where the amount should be listed is marked "CRT" or "Court", a court appearance is obligatory to respond to the ticket. If this is not the case, you may need to contact the clerk of the court indicated on the ticket to obtain the fine amount. Before receiving their own copy of the citation, defendants may be required to sign a "Promise to Appear", which indicates the defendant is being released on their own recognizance (as opposed to on a bond) and acts as a promise to respond to the ticket appropriately or risk a license suspension.

Traffic fines and court fees vary by violation and court in the state of Oklahoma. Oklahoma employs a driver points system to monitor drivers' habits. A conviction on a traffic violation may be reported to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS), and points may be added on your record. If you amass 10 points or more on your record within 5 years, your license may be suspended.

In Oklahoma, traffic violations are generalized as either moving violations or non-moving violations. Non-moving violations are offenses that involve defective vehicle equipment or violations that occur when the vehicle is not moving such as parking offenses. They can also be committed when vehicles are in motion such as a failure to wear a seatbelt. Moving violations tend to be committed when the vehicle is in motion. Non-moving violations are not reported to the DPS and do not show up on your driving record.

What to Do When You Get a Traffic Ticket in Oklahoma?

When you get a Uniform Violation Complaint ticket for a traffic violation in Oklahoma, you are required to respond to the ticket by the court appearance date indicated on the ticket or you could risk a license suspension or even a bench warrant for your arrest. Upon receiving the ticket, your options are:

• Pay the traffic ticket
• Fight the ticket.

If you wish to pay the ticket, note that this is an admission of guilt regarding the charges and may be recorded as a conviction. It is also regarded as a choice to waive rights to contest the ticket and acceptance of all fines and penalties. The conviction may be reported to the Oklahoma DPS, and points may be added to your driving record. The plea may be entered and the fine paid by the court appearance date, or you risk additional penalties. You can either plead "Guilty" or "No Contest". Pleading "No Contest" is similar to a guilty plea, but it reserves your statutory rights. The ticket can be paid:

• Online: If an amount is indicated on the ticket, the ticket can most likely be paid on the Oklahoma state ePayment service. You may need to verify that the county currently accepts online payments.
• Mail: You may need to mark the appropriate checkbox (Guilty or No Contest) and enclose a copy of the ticket with the fine amount (check or money order; No Cash) and mail it to the court listed on the ticket.
• In-Person: You can go, in person, to the county court listed on the ticket (City hall in some municipalities) and make your payment. The ticket may provide specific instructions on this. For further clarification, contact the court listed on the ticket.

Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Oklahoma

If you wish to fight the charge, you may need to appear in court on your assigned date and enter a "Not Guilty" plea during your arraignment. If you choose this route, you may be required to pay a bond (total fine + $35) at the arraignment, which may be returned to you if you win the case. A date may be assigned for a pre-trial conference with the prosecuting attorney, where a plea bargain can be reached to avoid a trial. This usually involves you pleading down to a lesser charge. It is advisable to have an attorney present with you. If a deal cannot be reached, then a trial date may be set. If you are found guilty at trial, then you may be assessed fines and other penalties, which you may be required to settle. Your conviction may be reported to DPS and shown on your driving record. If you are found "Not Guilty," then all charges against you are dismissed, as are fines and other penalties, and you may only be liable for court fees.

What to Expect in Oklahoma Traffic Court

Depending on the nature of the violation and your driving history, you may have the option of completing a state-approved driving course to get the ticket dismissed and/or keep points off your record. You could also be mandated to attend one by the court.

If you miss any of your scheduled court dates, you may be charged with a "Failure to appear" which can result in additional fines, a license suspension or even a bench warrant being issued against you. If you are unable to appear for any of your dates, ensure advance notice is given to the court and the date rescheduled.

How Do I Find Oklahoma Traffic Court Records?

Traffic records are typically available at the Office of the Court Clerk for the traffic court in the jurisdiction where the case was litigated. You may need to appear physically to gain access to these files.

Additionally, publicly available records are accessible from some third-party websites. These websites offer the benefit of not being limited by geographical record availability and can often serve as a starting point when researching a specific or multiple records. To find a record using the search engines on these sites, interested parties may be required to provide:

• The name of someone involved, providing it is not a juvenile
• The assumed location of the record in question, such as a city, county, or state name

Third-party sites are not government-sponsored websites; record availability may differ from official channels.

What Information is Required to Obtain Oklahoma Traffic Court Records?

To obtain an Oklahoma state traffic court record in Oklahoma, you may need to provide details about the record which may include the full name of the record i.e. the defendant, date of birth and the case file number. You may need to provide a valid ID when making the request. If certified copies of the record are required, you may need to cover court costs for this.

Are all Traffic Violations Handled the Same Way in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma state traffic violations are generally handled in the same manner, despite the offense you are cited for. The penalties and fines accrued may differ and be based on the statute or ordinance which was violated, but the procedures involved may be mostly the same.

Can Oklahoma Traffic Records be Sealed or Expunged?

The state of Oklahoma considers traffic violations misdemeanors, and according to Oklahoma law, it is possible to expunge misdemeanor offenses under certain circumstances. These circumstances are:

• If your fine was less than or equal to $500 you can expunge your record immediately
• If your fine was greater than $500, or you served jail time or had your sentence suspended, then you may be required to wait 5 years from the date you paid your fine or completed sentence
• If you received a deferred sentence, you can expunge your records 1 year after the sentence ended.

How Does One End Up in an Oklahoma Traffic Court?

You end up in an Oklahoma traffic court if you get cited for a traffic offense by a law enforcement officer and:

• You choose to contest the ticket.
• The offense you are cited for cannot be paid off without a court appearance.

Either of these would require that you appear in traffic court.

Which Courts in Oklahoma Have Jurisdiction to Hear Traffic Violation Matters?

In Oklahoma, Municipal courts have jurisdiction over all traffic and misdemeanors committed in violation of the local statutes and/or ordinances. Misdemeanors committed outside of this framework are heard in District court.

How to Prepare for Traffic Court in Oklahoma

Preparing for traffic court in Oklahoma requires understanding the Oklahoma Statutes governing traffic offenses. Motorists may be able to participate in a traffic school program to have their citations dismissed or reduced. Additionally, Oklahoma offers a deferred sentence option for certain traffic violations, allowing offenders to avoid a conviction by meeting certain conditions set by the court. Therefore, exploring all available options and being prepared to present your case effectively in court is essential.