All right, you ended up with a traffic ticket. Maybe you were in an area you didn't know, and you were speeding because you had no clue what the speed limit was. Maybe you had expired tags, and you didn't realize your tags were expired because you never got that reminder in the mail that the DMV is supposed to send. Heck, maybe you were just plain late for work and you were speeding on purpose. Regardless of how or why you got your ticket, the city expects you to pay it. Because people hear about "unpaid parking tickets" that have piled up under someone's name, they sometimes think traffic tickets must be the same way; sure, they plan to pay it, but they'll pay it "when they get around to it." If this thought is on your mind, think again! Paying your ticket late might seem minor, but it can make your life very complicated; the court will likely raise your fine; they will probably issue a warrant for your arrest; and even once they get the money from you, you'll probably have to pay to reinstate your license. Instead of complicating your life like this, just pay your ticket on time or early - it is very easy to do!

Paying early by mail: The main thing to remember if you choose this option is that, in most cities, the payment must have been made by the due date. This does not mean that your letter needs to be postmarked by that date; it means that the letter has to have reached them, and the check or money order must have cleared! Keep this in mind to avoid "late payment."

Paying early by other means: Many cities allow you to pay in a drop box at the courthouse, which lets you pay on any day leading up to the due date in an easy manner. Another easy "pay-early" option is "pay online." While not all cities allow online payments, check and see what the case is for your city. This option makes paying your ticket no more difficult that buying a new shirt online.

Paying at court: You should go with this option only if you have delayed too long to pay by any other means. If your name sits near the back end of the alphabet, make sure you bring a book along! You might be there for quite a while, as the courtroom is likely to be full. Once your name is finally called, all you have to do is plead guilty to the traffic ticket, and then you can pay.

Getting a traffic ticket is never fun, and paying a traffic ticket is even less fun. But if you fail to pay your ticket, the "less fun" of getting and paying the ticket will be the least of your concerns.