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Public Safety

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1. What do I do when I get a traffic ticket?

Check to see if your ticket is a voluntary assessment or a mandatory appearance. If it is a voluntary assessment, you can pay your ticket by voluntary assessment without having to go to court or plead not guilty and go to court.

2. How do I pay a voluntary assessment ticket?

By Mail – Enclose the ticket and a check, money order, or credit card (fill in the credit card information on the back of your ticket). If you are paying by check or money order, write the ticket number on it and make it payable to the “State of Delaware”. Do not mail cash. If a receipt is needed, you should send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your payment. Mail to:
State of Delaware
Voluntary Assessment Center
P.O. Box 7039
Dover, DE 19903-7039

By Fax – Payment must be made with a credit card. Fax a copy of the FRONT and BACK of your ticket (with credit card information filled out) to (302) 739-7590.

By Phone – Payment must be made by credit card. Be sure to have a copy of your ticket with you so that you can give the ticket number and other information to the clerk. Call (302) 739-6911.

In Person – Payment may also be made in person to the nearest Justice of the Peace Criminal Court.

3. What do I do if I received a voluntary assessment ticket but decide I want to plead not guilty?

If you decide to plead not guilty after receiving a voluntary assessment, you are requesting a court trial and must appear in court to defend the charge(s).

To plead not guilty, sign where indicated on the back of your ticket and mail the ticket or fax both sides of the ticket by the court date indicated.

If you fax the ticket, you should call (302) 739-6911 to confirm receipt. Directions are also indicated on the back of your ticket.

You will be notified of your court date, time, and location once you have requested to plead not guilty.

4. What is Delaware’s Probation Before Judgment Program?

If you are required or choose to go to court and are eligible, you may be able to participate in the Probation Before Judgment Program.

Eligibility for probation before judgment is limited. You are not eligible if you have been convicted of the same offense previously or have been placed on probation before judgment for any other offense within the last five (5) years.

Even if you are eligible, it is in the court’s discretion with the prosecution’s consent whether you will be allowed to enter into the Probation Before Judgment Program. Under probation before judgment, you are placed on probation under the conditions set by the court. If you successfully complete these conditions, you are discharged from probation without any judgment of conviction (which means that points are not assessed).

Holders of commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) are not eligible for probation before judgment whether or not the holder was driving a commercial vehicle at the time the ticket was received.

5. What should I do if I have lost my ticket?

If you lose your ticket, please call the Voluntary Assessment Center at (302) 739-6911 or contact the Clayton Police Department at (302) 653-8186 to request a copy of your ticket.

6. My vehicle was towed by the Clayton Police Department. What do I do to get it back?

If you vehicle is towed by the Clayton Police Department, come to the police station and request a tow release.

In order to receive your tow release, you must bring someone with a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance for the vehicle. Once you receive your tow release, contact Wrecker’s Towing at (302) 659-2851.

All costs to release your vehicle are handled by the towing company not the police department.

7. Where do I go to pay a parking ticket fine?

If you receive a parking ticket issued by the Clayton Police Department, you can mail a check payable to:
Town of Clayton
P.O. Box 1130
Clayton, DE 19938-1130

or stop by the police department to pay your fine.

8. I want to file a complaint against a member of the police department. What do I do?

If you wish to file a complaint against a member of the police department, please contact the police department. You will receive a complaint form to complete.

Once your form is completed and returned to the department, you will be contacted for further investigation.