To contest a minor moving violation ticket, you must request a hearing with DC DMV within 60 calendar days of the date the ticket was issued. If you don’t request a hearing within 30 calendar days, a penalty will be assessed. The penalty is the same amount as the ticket fine, meaning your ticket payment will double. You can request a hearing online or by mail.
Request a Hearing Online
View more information on how to request a hearing online at the link below:
If you request a hearing date online, you will be able to select a date and time that is convenient for you. When selecting your hearing you will have the option to choose to appear in person or remotely for a virtual hearing.
Request a Hearing By Mail
Complete this form and mail to:
Hearing Request Form
DC DMV Adjudication Services
ATTN: Schedule Hearing
PO Box 37135
Washington, DC 20013
If you request a hearing date by mail, you will receive a postcard within two weeks with the date and time of your hearing. If you do not receive a notice of your hearing date and time within two weeks, please call 311 for confirmation of your hearing date.
Request a Hearing In Person
To request and scheduled a hearing for a minor moving violation ticket in person visit the Adjudication service center. Walk-in hearings are not available for minor moving violations, your hearing will be scheduled for a future date to ensure the issuing officer will be present at the time of the hearing.
Attending Your Scheduled Hearing: In-Person
In-person scheduled hearings for minor moving violations are conducted at DC DMV’s Adjudication Services Office.
On the hearing date, you must check in at the hearing information desk and present the notice you received that has the date and time of your hearing and a valid driver license.
Attending Your Scheduled Hearing: Virtually
Please visit the Virtual Hearing page for detailed information on how to access your virtual hearing and the virtual hearing process:
Moving violation tickets usually result in points on your driving record. If you accumulate too many points, your driver license may be suspended. However, if a hearing examiner approves traffic school, you may avoid the points. Below is a link to information on the DC DMV driver point system:
Do not pay the ticket if you want to contest the fine and/or penalty. You may not contest a ticket once you have paid either the fine and/or penalty nor can you request a refund.
Reschedule a Hearing
To reschedule a hearing for a minor moving violation, you must submit a written request at least seven business days prior to the hearing date to:
DC DMV Adjudication Services
ATTN: Schedule Hearing
PO Box 37135
Washington, DC 20013
If You Miss a Scheduled Hearing
If you miss a scheduled hearing or you report to your hearing late the hearing examiner will conduct the hearing and hold you liable for the ticket. You will be responsible for paying the fine and/or penalty. You will also be assessed any points on your driver license that are associated with the violation.
To request a new hearing date, you must submit a written explanation for your failure to appear at your hearing within 60 calendar days of missing the hearing.
This written explanation is called a Motion to Vacate. You may complete and submit a Motion to Vacate online or by mail.
You may also submit any information or documentation with the Motion that helps explain why you missed the hearing, such as evidence of a medical emergency. Your motion will be reviewed to determine whether you have offered a good reason for missing the hearing.
To submit your Motion to Vacate online, use the link below:
To submit your Motion to Vacate by mail, send the Motion to Vacate form and any supporting documents to:
DC DMV Adjudication Services
ATTN: Motion to Vacate
PO Box 37135
Washington, DC 20013
The Motion to Vacate form can be found at the link below:
To submit your Motion to Vacate in person, visit the Adjudication Service Center.
Mail Adjudication of Minor Moving Violation Ticket
If you would like to dispute a minor moving violation ticket, or the fine or penalty, by mail, through Mail Adjudication, fill in the information on the back of the ticket and submit the ticket, a written statement explaining your defense, and any evidence, such as hardcopy photographs or receipts, you think might help your case to:
DC DMV Adjudication Services
Attn: Mail Adjudication
PO Box 37135
Washington, DC 20013
DC DMV will send you a postcard indicating that your mail adjudication request has been received. If you do not receive the postcard within two weeks, please call 311 to check on the status of your request.
You will receive a decision about your ticket from DC DMV either by mail or through the DC DMV email ticket alert system (TAS), if you have a TAS account. Register for TAS at the link below: