Traffic Citations

By Matt Burress, Legislative Analyst

Ben Johnson, Legislative Analyst

Traffic Citations

September 2019

Executive Summary

This publication provides an overview of citations for traffic violations, focusing on basic

penalties, assessment of fines, and allocation of fine proceeds. Many traffic violations can be

addressed through payment of a fine amount following a fine schedule, while more serious

violations usually require a court appearance. The amount paid is composed of a base fine, a

surcharge, and a law library fee. Proceeds are allocated to local units of government and

different state funds and accounts, following different formulas depending on the

circumstances of the violation.

Offenses and penalties. State statutes regulate traffic and motor vehicle operation

through various prohibitions and requirements. There are four basic “offense levels” for

violation of traffic (and other criminal) laws. The levels generally reflect differing gravity of

offenses; higher levels carry increased penalties over a lower level.

 A petty misdemeanor is the lowest level of offense. It is not considered a crime

and does not carry a jail sentence, but entails a fine of up to $300. A petty

misdemeanor is typically a “payable offense,” which means that the fine can be

paid without a court appearance. Fine payment constitutes a plea of guilty.

Many but not all traffic violations are petty misdemeanors. Minn. Stat. §§ 169.89;

609.02, subd. 4a.

 The next offense level is a misdemeanor. While a number of traffic-related

misdemeanors are payable offenses, a court appearance is often required. A

misdemeanor is punishable by imprisonment of up to 90 days, a fine of up to

$1,000, or both. Minn. Stat. § 609.02, subd. 3.

 Most traffic violations are not categorized in the highest offense levels,

gross misdemeanor and felony. Minn. Stat. § 609.03.

Fines. For offenses where a fine can be paid without a court appearance (payable offenses),

the amount is generally set by the judicial branch and is subject to statutory maximums set

for each offense level. However, state statutes specify the fine amount for some violations,

and there are a few situations in which the law establishes a minimum or a different

maximum fine, or raises the fine if certain conditions apply to the violation (such as doubling

the fine for some speeding infractions). The judicial branch annually sets fine amounts in a

uniform statewide fine schedule known as the Statewide Payables List. It generally sets fines

at a specific dollar amount for each traffic violation. A discussion of fines starts on page 4.

Traffic Citations

Minnesota House Research Department Page 2

The total amount a person who violates a traffic law must pay is generally composed of three

components:

 the base fine, which is the core amount stemming from the violation (typically it is

specified in the Statewide Payables List, although the fine may be set by a judge if

there is a court appearance)—currently at a $50 default unless otherwise

specified

 a surcharge imposed on all criminal and petty misdemeanor convictions

regardless of offense—currently at $12 for parking violations and $75 for all other

violations

 a law library fee that varies across counties

Allocation of funds. State statutes establish several formulas to disburse fine revenue.

In general, money from the base fine is allocated between the state’s general fund, cities and

counties, and state transportation-specific accounting funds. The formula that applies

depends on the circumstances of the offense, such as the city and county where the offense

took place, whether there is a court appearance, and which agency apprehended the

offender. The surcharge primarily goes to the general fund (with a small amount going to the

Department of Natural Resources), and the library fee goes to the law library of the county

where the offense occurred. More information is available starting on page 7.

Penalties for Traffic Violations

State law establishes traffic regulations that impose various duties and limitations on motorists.

They include vehicle registration and license plate requirements, directions on how a motor

vehicle must be driven (such as stopping at red lights and using turn signals), vehicle size and

weight restrictions, vehicle equipment requirements, and driver licensing.

Along with other violations of state law, traffic infractions are divided into four basic levels of

offenses reflecting increasing seriousness:

1) petty misdemeanor

2) misdemeanor

3) gross misdemeanor

4) felony

The basic methods to penalize a person for committing a traffic offense are (1) a fine, (2)

imprisonment, and (3) loss of driving privileges. (This publication does not discuss loss of

driving privileges, which involve cancellation, suspension, or revocation of a driver’s license as

well as associated costs.)

Traffic Citations

Minnesota House Research Department Page 3

Payable Offenses

For many traffic laws, a violation is considered a “payable offense,” meaning that the violation

can be handled by payment of a fine instead of a court appearance. Payable offenses consist

primarily of all statutory petty misdemeanors identified along with some designated

misdemeanors. Payment of the fine constitutes a plea of guilty. Minn. R. Crim. P. 23.03,

subd. 3.

Petty Misdemeanors

A petty misdemeanor offense cannot be punished by a sentence of imprisonment, but does

entail a fine of up to $300. Minn. Stat. § 609.02, subd. 4a. A petty misdemeanor is normally a

payable offense that can be handled through payment of the fine without appearing in court. If

the person chooses to appear in court, the case is not subject to a jury trial and the judge sets

the amount of any fine imposed. Minn. Stat. § 169.89, subd. 2. A person cited only for a petty

misdemeanor traffic violation is not subject to custodial arrest. A petty misdemeanor is not

considered a “crime” under Minnesota Statutes (the term is instead reserved for the more

serious offense levels that may subject a person to imprisonment). Minn. Stat. § 609.02, subd.

4a.

Violation of a traffic regulation is often a petty misdemeanor offense, although various

registration and licensing requirements, some repeat offenses, and more significant infractions

can carry a higher penalty. See Minn. Stat. § 169.89, subd. 1.

Violations that by

themselves constitute a petty misdemeanor include: speeding; various other

moving violations like running a red light or failure to signal a turn; parking in restricted

locations; and driving a vehicle having unsafe equipment such as a faulty brake light or

improperly

tinted windows. Minn. Stat. §§ 169.06; 169.14; 169.19; 169.34; 169.50; 169.71.

Crimes

In general, more serious violations of state traffic laws are associated with a higher offense

level. A misdemeanor (the next level above a petty misdemeanor) is punishable by

imprisonment of up to 90 days, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Minn. Stat. § 609.02. Among

traffic-related misdemeanors, some are designated as a payable offense where a court

appearance is not required. Misdemeanor offenses designated as payable include careless

driving (if there was no accident or injury) and failure to carry proof of auto insurance. Minn.

Stat. §§ 169.13; 169.797.

Traffic violations that are normally a petty misdemeanor can be enhanced to a misdemeanor if:

 identified as having been committed “so as to endanger or be likely to endanger any

person or property” (in which case it is no longer a payable offense); or



preceded by two or more petty misdemeanor convictions for any traffic or motor

vehicle

violations, excluding parking violations, within the previous 12-month period.

Minn. Stat. § 169.89, subd. 1.

Traffic Citations

Minnesota House Research Department Page 4

A gross misdemeanor carries a penalty of up to one year of imprisonment, a fine of up to

$3,000, or both. The highest level of penalty is a felony, which carries a sentence of more

than a year. Minn. Stat. § 609.02.

Administrative Citations

Counties, cities, and towns are authorized to establish, by resolution, administrative citations

that peace officers can impose instead of petty misdemeanor or criminal citations. Minn. Stat.

169.999. The state statute that is violated remains the same, but

the fine and legal process

differ for administrative citations. The authority to issue administration citations is limited to:

 speeding violations, if the person exceeds the limit by less than 10 miles per hour as

actually recorded by the officer;

 failure to stop or yield at designated signs; and

 operating a vehicle that violates certain lighting and equipment standards

(concerning items like window tinting, brakes, tires, bumpers, and horns). Minn.

Stat. § 169.999, subd. 1.

A peace officer can issue an administrative citation at the officer’s discretion; officers cannot be

required to handle all eligible violations through administrative citations. The citation can be

contested through a civil process that must be established by the local unit of government. The

process must include a hearing and rulings by a neutral third party when a citation is contested.

This process takes the place of the court system in handling the case. The citation is not

recorded on a person’s driving record and does not affect driving privileges.

Fines for Traffic Violations

Amount of a Fine

The actual amount of a fine for a traffic violation is not usually set in state statutes. Rather,

most fines are determined by either a uniform fine schedule or a judge, subject to the

maximum identified in statute (e.g., up to $300 for a petty misdemeanor).

There are exceptions in which an amount is fixed in law, or a statutory minimum or maximum

amount is specified. Exceptions can apply to petty misdemeanors as well as some crimes. As

examples, it is a $25 fine for failure to wear a seat belt; it is a fine of no more than $50 for

failure to secure certain children in a child restraint device; and unauthorized parking in a

disability space carries a fine of $100 to $200. Minn. Stat. §§ 169.346, subd. 3; 169.685, subd.

5; 169.686, subd. 1. The fine for an administrative citation is set in statute at $60. Minn. Stat. §

169.999, subd. 5.

There are also a few cases in which the fine amount is increased based on the circumstances of

the violation. For instance, the fine is doubled for a person who violates the speed limit in

various ways, such as when going over the limit by 20 or more miles per hour. Minn. Stat. §

169.14. A higher minimum fine is also established for some repeat offenses (in which a person

commits more than one violation of a law), as with a minimum fine of $400 for a second or

Traffic Citations

Minnesota House Research Department Page 5

subsequent instance of littering on a highway and a $275 fine for a second or subsequent

violation of electronic messaging and cellular phone use prohibitions. Minn. Stat. §§

169.42, subd. 5; 169.475, subd. 2.

Statewide Payables List

The judicial branch maintains a uniform fine schedule that lists statutory fines and sets other

fine amounts for petty misdemeanor and some misdemeanor traffic violations. (There are

other schedules for truck-related and commercial motor vehicle violations as well as for

violations related to natural resources and outdoor activities.) The schedule, known as the

Statewide Payables List, is authorized by state statute.

Minn. Stat. § 609.101, subd. 4. The

governing body of the judicial branch, the Judicial Council, maintains and revises the list

annually. There is a $50 default fine for a petty misdemeanor offense where the amount or

violation is not established in the Statewide Payables List.

In most cases, the fine in the Statewide Payables List is a specific amount for each violation.

However, the fine amount for some violations depends on the facts of the offense. For

example, the fine for speeding depends on the extent to which the person exceeded the limit

and the fine for excessive vehicle weight is scaled based on the extent to which the vehicle was

overweight.

Local district courts can establish a schedule setting fine amounts for local ordinance

violations that may be paid in lieu of a court appearance. Minn. R. Crim. P. 23.03.

Components of a Fine

The total amount a person must pay for a traffic violation has several elements.

First, there is

the base fine itself. As discussed above, the Statewide Payables List typically sets fine amounts

for payable offenses, but in some cases state statutes establish a minimum or specific fine

amount. For crimes requiring a court appearance, the judge sets the fine amount as part of

sentencing.

Second, there is a $75 surcharge for all persons convicted of a petty misdemeanor or crime,

including traffic violations that are continued, stayed, or dismissed as part of diversion

program.

The surcharge does not apply (1) to administrative citations, or (2) if the penalty is a

petty misdemeanor and no fine is imposed. Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 6.

This is available at: http://www.mncourts.gov/JusticePartners/Statewide-Payables-Lists.aspx.

In addition to the items discussed here, a person could be required to pay vehicle towing and impoundment

costs, restitution, and other court costs.

The surcharge was first instituted starting January 1, 1999. It has been set as follows: fiscal years 1999–2001:

$25, first instituted starting January 1, 1999 (Laws 1998, ch. 367, art. 8, § 5); 2002–2003: $35 (Laws 2001, 1st

spec. sess., ch. 9, art. 18, § 15); 2004–2005: $60 (Laws 2003, 1st spec. sess., ch. 2, art. 8, § 6); 2006–2008: $72

(Laws 2005, ch. 136, art. 14, § 4); and 2009 to present: $75 (Laws 2008, ch. 363, art. 12, § 11).

Traffic Citations

Minnesota House Research Department Page 6

The surcharge amount for parking violations is $12.

An additional $1 special surcharge is also

added in the Second Judicial District if authorized by Ramsey County. Only one surcharge per

case can be imposed (that is, if

a person is convicted for more than one offense in a case, there

would be only one surcharge). Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 6.

Finally, the total fine amount can include a fee added for county law libraries. Each county sets

the am

ount and the fee varies across the state. As examples, the fee is $10 in St. Louis County,

$12 in Dakota and Hennepin Counties, and $15 in Ramsey and Rice Counties. Funds are

allotted to support the library. Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09; 134A.10.

The following table highlights some example citations and associated fines.

Examples of Fine Components

Violation Base Fine Surcharge Law Library

Total

Brake light not working $40 $75 $12 $127

Careless driving

100 75 12 187

Expired tabs 30 75 12 117

Expired driver’s license 100 75 12 187

Parking – too close to fire hydrant 25 12 0 37

Seatbelt use 25 75 12 112

Speeding – 12 m.p.h. over limit 50 75 12 137

Speeding – 21 m.p.h. over limit

iii

140 75 12 227

Stop sign (failure to stop) 50 75 12 137

Amount differs depending on the location of the offense. All examples are for Hennepin County.

Violation is payable without a court appearance only if there is no accident or injury.

iii

Base fine includes doubled amount. See Minn. Stat. § 169.14, subd. 2.

The surcharge for parking has been set as follows: fiscal years 2004–2005: $3 (Laws 2003, 1st spec. sess., ch. 2,

art. 8, § 6); 2006–2008: $4 (Laws 2005, ch. 136, art. 14, § 4); 2010 to present: $12 (Laws 2009, ch. 83, art. 2, § 22).

Traffic Citations

Minnesota House Research Department Page 7

Disbursement of Funds

Disbursement of proceeds from the base fine, the surcharge, and an administrative citation are

handled independently, through a number of different allocation formulas discussed below.

General Allocation of Base Fine Proceeds

The allocation of base fine proceeds varies. It depends on four factors: (1) the county, and in

some cases the city, in which the violation occurred; (2) who handled prosecution; (3) who

apprehended the offender; and (4) in some cases the specific violation, such as with a parking

violation, seat belt violation, or exceeding a vehicle weight limit.

Except for apprehension by the State Patrol, the fine allocation is primarily based on the

location where the offense takes place. Proceeds go to cities or towns as well as the state. The

following table outlines the generally applicable distribution of base fine proceeds under

different circumstances. (The allocation may be different for a specific offense; state statutes

should be consulted to determine whether there is variation relative to the following table.)

General Allocation of Base Fines for Traffic Violations

Circumstances of Offense

To Political

Subdivision

To State

General Fund

(1)

In Hennepin County

80% 20%

In Ramsey County

50% 50%

If in St. Paul

66-2/3% 33-1/3%

In all other counties 66-2/3% 33-1/3%

If a parking violation 100% 0%

(2)

If prosecuted by county attorney

(regardless of circumstances in (1) above)

0% 100%

(3)

If apprehended by State Patrol (regardless

of circumstances in (1) or (2) above)

Varies (see next section below)

Allocation also applies to parking violations.

Notes

“Political subdivision” refers to the city or town in which the offense is committed.

Allocation excludes the surcharge and administrative citations.

Allocation for a specific offense may be set differently in state statute.

Minn. Stat. §§ 484.841; 484.85; 484.90; 574.34.

Traffic Citations

Minnesota House Research Department Page 8

Allocation of State Patrol Related Proceeds

If the State Patrol apprehends a person, then the fine allocation follows one of three formulas

depending on the circumstances of the violation. First, under the general formula:

 three-eighths of the fine goes to the state’s general fund; and

 of the remaining five-eighths: (1) the first $1,000,000 collected in a fiscal year goes

to the Minnesota grade crossing safety account

, and (2) the remainder goes to the

trunk highway fund.

Second, if the violation is prosecuted by a city attorney (when the fine is not simply paid) a

different formula applies, so that:

 one-third of the fine goes to the state’s general fund;

 one-third goes to the municipality; and

 one-third goes to the state in the same manner as the five-eighths allocation

outlined above.

Third, if the violation involves motor vehicle weights, the allocation is:

 three-eighths to the state’s general fund; and

 five-eighths to the highway user tax distribution fund. Minn. Stat. § 299D.03, subd.

The third allocation (above) is also used if a person is cited for a weight violation by an

employee of the state, such as a qualified vehicle weight inspector.

Other Allocations

Under a state law, the fine from a seat belt violation must go to an emergency medical services

relief account. The money is distributed:

 90 percent to regional emergency medical services systems for training, vehicles and

equipment, and operations of emergency transportation; and



10 percent for State Patrol traffic safety education programs. Minn. Stat. § 169.686,

subd. 3.

Allocation of the Surcharge

The $75 surcharge is distributed based on a combination of specified dollar allocations and a

formula, resulting in:

 $74.75 to the state’s general fund; and

Fund distribution to the grade crossing account was first established in 2005 at $600,000 and was increased to $1

million in 2010. Laws 2005, 1st spec. sess., ch. 6, art. 3, § 88; Laws 2010, ch. 351, § 58. Prior to that, the entire

five-eighths went to the trunk highway fund.

Traffic Citations

Minnesota House Research Department Page 9

 $0.25 to the game and fish fund to provide training for DNR officers.

The entire $12 parking violation surcharge goes to the state’s general fund. The additional $1

special surcharge imposed by Ramsey County is credited to its petty misdemeanor diversion

program. Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 7.

Allocation of Administrative Citation Proceeds

The proceeds of an administrative citation are allocated in one of two ways depending on who

apprehended the violator. If a peace officer employed by a local unit of government issues the

citation, proceeds are distributed:

 one-third to the state’s general fund; and

 two-thirds to the general revenue fund of the governmental unit.

If the State Patrol (under contract to a local unit of government) issues the citation, the

proceeds are allocated:

 two-thirds to the state’s general fund; and

 one-third to the general revenue fund of the governmental unit. Minn. Stat. §

169.999, subd. 5.

Minnesota House Research Department provides nonpartisan legislative, legal, and

information services to the Minnesota House of Representatives. This document can

be made available in alternative formats.

www.house.mn/hrd | 651-296-6753 | 600 State Office Building | St. Paul, MN 55155

The distribution in state statute allocates $50 to the general fund and the remaining $25 based on percentages

(at 99 percent, or $24.75, to general fund; and 1 percent, or $0.25, to the game and fish fund). Minn. Stat. §

357.021, subd. 7. Until 2019, the peace officer training account received $9.75 from every fine. That amount is

now sent to the general fund as part of legislation that transferred funding for the Peace Officer Standards and

Traini

ng Board from a special revenue fund to the general fund. See Laws 2019, 1st spec. sess., ch. 5, art. 2, § 8.