As a marketing executive from Manhattan, I never expected that a quick business trip to Newark would result in me paying traffic fines.
But that’s exactly what happened when I got caught speeding and using my phone on the Garden State Parkway. I learned that paying New Jersey traffic tickets from New York is easier than you might think.
The whole ordeal started when I rushed back to New York after a meeting. I was going 20 mph over the limit and decided to make a quick call. Big mistake. A New Jersey state trooper pulled me over, and I ended up with a $300 fine. Talk about a rough day!
At first, I was worried about how I’d pay for the ticket from out of state.
But then I learned about NJMCdirect, New Jersey’s online payment system for traffic violations. It was pretty simple, even for a New Yorker like me.
I’ll walk you through how I paid for my New Jersey ticket online so you can avoid the stress if you ever find yourself in a similar situation.
Payments and Penalties for NJ Traffic Tickets
Getting a traffic ticket in New Jersey can be costly. I learned this the hard way when I was caught speeding and using my phone on the Garden State Parkway.
Here’s what I learned about paying fines in New Jersey.
How to Pay NJ Traffic Ticket?
I had a few options for paying my $300 fine. The easiest way was to pay my ticket online through NJMCdirect.
I just needed my ticket information and a credit card to use the NJMCdirect.Co.Com portal.
For those who prefer other methods, you can:
- Pay by mail
- Pay in person at the court
- Call the court to pay by phone
If you lose your ticket, don’t panic. You can call the municipal court where you got the ticket. They can look up your case info.
Potential Additional Surcharges and Penalties
I was surprised to learn that the fine wasn’t my only worry. New Jersey has extra surcharges for some violations. These can add up fast.
For example:
- Speeding 15-29 mph over the limit: $150 surcharge
- Cell phone use while driving: $250 surcharge for first offense
These surcharges are on top of the ticket fine. They’re usually paid to the DMV, not the court.
If you don’t pay on time, things can get worse. Late fees, license suspension, and even arrest warrants are possible. I made sure to pay promptly to avoid these headaches.
Traffic Violations Between New York and New Jersey
I learned some key differences in how traffic tickets work between New York and New Jersey after my recent experience.
The laws and processes can vary quite a bit between the two states.
The Basics of Cross-State Traffic Tickets
As a New York driver, I learned that New Jersey takes traffic violations seriously. My speeding ticket in New Jersey showed up on my New York driving record. I didn’t know this could happen!
New Jersey and New York share info about traffic violations. This means a ticket in one state can affect your license in the other. I was surprised to learn that New Jersey can even suspend my New York license for serious offenses.
The fines can be steep too. My $300 ticket for speeding and phone use was a big hit to my wallet.
New Jersey seems to have higher fines than what I’m used to in New York.
Differences in Traffic Laws
I found out the hard way that New Jersey has some stricter traffic laws than New York.
For example, the speed limits on highways are often lower in New Jersey. I was going 20 mph over without realizing it.
Phone use while driving is a big no-no in both states. But New Jersey seems to crack down on it more. I got caught red-handed on my phone, which added to my fine.
New Jersey also has different rules about U-turns and right turns on red. I wish I had brushed up on these differences before my trip. It would have saved me a lot of trouble!
Frequently Asked Questions
I learned a lot from my experience paying a New Jersey ticket while living in New York. Here’s what I found out:
Will my driving points be affected in NY for a ticket received in NJ?
Yes, they can. New York and New Jersey have an agreement to share driving violation information. My speeding ticket in NJ showed up on my NY driving record. It’s important to take care of out-of-state tickets quickly.
How can I pay for a New Jersey traffic ticket from New York state?
I found out I could pay for my NJ ticket online through NJMCdirect.com. It was pretty simple. I just entered my speeding ticket number, court ID info and a payment details.
Can you give me the rundown on using NJMCDirect to handle tickets?
NJMCdirect is NJ’s online system for paying traffic tickets. I used it to pay my fine. The site has set hours for payments:
- Monday to Thursday: 4:30 AM to 11:15 PM
- Friday: 4:30 AM to 10:15 PM
- Saturday: 4:30 AM to 3:15 PM
- Sunday: 1:00 PM to 11:15 PM
These times are in Eastern Time. I could check my ticket status anytime the site was up.
What’s the deal if I’m a New Yorker but got clocked speeding in Jersey?
As a New Yorker who got caught speeding in New Jersey, I had to deal with NJ laws. The fine was steep—$300 for speeding and using my phone. I learned that NJ takes traffic violations seriously, even for out-of-state drivers.
Can I pay for a New Jersey parking ticket using my license plate info?
Yes, it is. I didn’t have a parking ticket, but I found out you can pay those online, too. You just need your license plate number and the state it’s from. This works for both NJ residents and out-of-state drivers like me.
Summary
I learned a hard lesson about traffic laws in New Jersey. My trip from Manhattan to Newark for a business meeting ended with a $300 fine. I was caught speeding on the Garden State Parkway, going 20 mph over the limit. To top it off, I was using my phone while driving.
The experience was eye-opening. New Jersey takes traffic violations seriously. I now know to be extra careful when driving out of state.
Here’s a quick breakdown of my mistakes:
- Speeding: 20 mph over the limit
- Phone use: Caught using mobile while driving
- Total fine: $300
I’ve changed my driving habits since then. I always:
- Check local speed limits
- Put my phone away before starting the car
- Use hands-free devices if needed
Paying the fine was simple. I used New Jersey’s online payment system to settle the ticket quickly.
This incident taught me to respect traffic laws everywhere I go. It’s not worth risking safety or facing hefty fines. I’m more cautious now, especially when driving in unfamiliar areas.
Let me know if you have any doubts or need more information about NJ traffic tickets. I will be happy to assist you guys.