Traffic Citations
How do I pay a traffic citation?
The "bond" amount is the amount of your fine and is located on the front of your citation. Bond must be received within 14 days of the issue of the citation.
If the citation states "MAY FORFEIT," you may elect to "post the bond" (pay the fine) or contest it.
If the citation states you "MUST APPEAR," you are required to appear in court on the date listed on your citation and the option to contest the citation does not apply to you.
If the citation states "MAY FIX-IT," you may elect to pay the bond, contest the citation or fix the defect, have it inspected by a law enforcement officer (who will then sign the citation) and file it with the Clerk of Court's office within 14 days after the date of the citation.
Failure to post or forfeit bond within 14 days shall be a class B misdemeanor.
How can I contest a traffic citation?
If you choose to contest the offense you were cited for, you must request a hearing in person or in writing AND post the bond within 14 days of the issue of the citation. The Clerk of Court's office will notify you of the hearing date.
Clerk of Court office hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.
Phone Number: 701.241.1316
Location: 402 NP Ave. N., Fargo
After the person has posted bond, the court clerk will assign a court date. On the specified date, the person will be able to plead his or her case before a judge and question the officer. If the judge rules in the person's favor, the bond he or she posted will be refunded.
If a person is aggrieved by the findings that he or she committed the violation, he or she may appeal to the District Court for trial by the court.
Parking Tickets
Failure to pay a parking fine within 10 days from the date issued will result in an additional $5.00 fee. If you have two or more unpaid or unsettled tickets that are at least 10 days old, your vehicle may be towed and impounded. The owner of the vehicle shall be responsible for payment of all impound fees as specified by the impounding service provider plus all open parking fines due. The impounding agency requires payment in cash.
How do I pay a parking ticket?
Mail: Please make your check or money order payable to the City of Fargo and ENCLOSE the parking ticket with payment. Payments must be received before the due date to avoid additional penalties. Do not mail cash.
By phone: 701.809.9037
In person: Make a payment in person at the Fargo City Hall Auditor's Office, 225 4 Street North, Fargo, between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
How can I contest a parking ticket?
Any person who feels that a City of Fargo parking ticket was issued in error may contest the parking ticket by completing the city notice of appeal form. Enter your parking ticket or license plate number to find your ticket and click search, choose appeal and complete the form then click "appeal now."
All persons receiving a citation have a right to appeal within five days of receiving the ticket. The administrative review involves no court appearance. The appeal will be reviewed within five days by a Fargo Police Department sergeant. If the administrative review is denied, you are obligated to pay the fine noted on the ticket within five days of notice of denial. You will only be notified if this appeal is denied and, in that case, the $5.00 penalty still becomes effective 10 days after the date the ticket was issued. If not paid by 30 days from issuance, an additional $45 will be applied to your ticket for a total of $70.
NDSU Parking Tickets
If your parking ticket was issued by the NDSU Police, please complete the University's appeal website.