Understanding your summons

There are two types of summons:

• Non-Mandatory
• Mandatory

Look towards the bottom area of your summons: if the the box for "Mandatory" is checked, you have a mandatory summons.

Mandatory summons

What if my summons / ticket is marked "Mandatory Court Appearance"?

You must appear at the Louisville Municipal Court at the date and time indicated on your summons / ticket. Please see the Court Date section in your summons for more information.

Will I still be entitled to a possible point reduction or plea bargain?

Yes, you will have the opportunity to speak with the Prosecutor regarding a possible point reduction 

What if I don't show up for my court date?

If you do not show up at the date and time indicated on your summons / ticket, a Failure to Appear Warrant will be issued.

Non-Mandatory summons

My ticket / summons is marked "You may pay the fine of the penalty assessment", what does that mean?

This means you are able to pay the fine on your traffic citation prior to your court date to receive a reduction in points and you will not have to appear in court. 

Please note, the original charge will stay the same, only the points will be reduced.

• Defective Vehicle Charge - 4 points will be reduced to 2 points
• Defective Headlamp Charge - 2 or 3 points will be reduced to 1 point
• Vision Obstructed Charge - 1 point will be reduced to 0 points.

When is the payment due?

The payment is due 14 days prior to the court date indicated on your ticket / summons.

What if I don't pay prior to my Court date?

If you did not pay prior to your Court date, and you did not come to Court, you will still be able to pay online. However, the original points will be assessed to your driving record.

You may call the Court for a new Court date, but a Failure to Appear charge may be added.  

What types of payment are accepted?

The Court accepts:

• Cash
• Check 
• Credit / debit cards
• Money orders
• Cashier's checks.

Make checks payable to Louisville Municipal Court.

Can I pay online with a credit / debit card?

• Yes, you can pay online. 
• You will need your ticket / citation number.
• There is a $2.50 service fee and 3.95% processing fee for all online transactions.