What ePlead Is and When You Use It
ePlead is New York's online system for responding to traffic tickets and DMV violations without going to court in person. You can plead guilty, not guilty, or request a hearing through the website instead of mailing a response or appearing at a traffic court. The system is run by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and connects to local courts statewide.
You use ePlead when you receive a traffic ticket or violation notice that includes a case number and instructions to respond. The important date to respond is printed on your ticket — usually 30 days from the date you received it. If you miss that important date, the court may issue a default judgment against you, which can result in a suspended license or additional fines.
ePlead works for most traffic violations in New York, including speeding, red light violations, stop sign violations, and equipment violations. It does not work for parking tickets, which are handled through a separate system. If your ticket was issued by a city police officer, state police, or sheriff's deputy, ePlead is likely available for your case.
Key Takeaways
- ePlead lets you respond to a traffic ticket online using your case number and ticket information, without appearing in court.
- You have 30 days from the date on your ticket to respond through ePlead or by mail; missing this important date can result in a suspended license.
- You can plead guilty and pay the fine, plead not guilty and request a hearing, or ask for a traffic safety course option if available.
- ePlead is free to use and available 24 hours a day on the DMV website; you will need your ticket number, case number, and date of birth.
- If you plead not guilty, you will receive a court date by mail, and you can still appear in person or request a hearing by phone or video.
How to Access ePlead and What Information You Need
Go to the New York DMV website and look for the ePlead link under "Traffic Tickets and Violations." You will be asked to enter your ticket number, case number, and date of birth. Both numbers appear on your ticket — the ticket number is usually at the top, and the case number is printed separately, often in a box labeled "Case Number" or "Appearance Ticket Number."
If you cannot find your case number on the ticket, call the court listed on your ticket directly. The court clerk can give you the case number over the phone. You will also need the violation date and the name of the court or jurisdiction where the ticket was issued. Have your ticket in front of you before you start, because the system will not let you proceed without exact information.
ePlead is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no fee to use it. Once you log in, the system will show you the violation details, the fine amount, and your response options. Read the violation description carefully — if it does not match what happened, note the discrepancy before you respond.
Your Three Response Options Through ePlead
When you log into ePlead, you will see three main choices: plead guilty, plead not guilty, or request a traffic safety course (if available for your violation).
Pleading guilty means you accept the violation and agree to pay the fine. The fine amount is shown on the screen. Once you plead guilty, you can pay when ready through ePlead using a credit or debit card, or you can request a payment plan if the fine is over a certain amount. Pleading guilty ends the case — there is no court appearance. However, points will be added to your driving record, which can raise your insurance rates.
Pleading not guilty means you dispute the violation. The court will send you a hearing date by mail within two to four weeks. You do not have to appear in person — you can request a hearing by phone or video conference when you receive the court notice. At the hearing, you can explain your side of what happened, and the judge will decide whether the violation stands.
Traffic safety course is available for some violations, usually minor speeding or equipment violations. If you take an approved course, the violation may be dismissed or reduced. The course costs money (usually $50 to $100) and takes a few hours to complete online or in person. You must request this option through ePlead if it is offered for your ticket.
What Happens After You Respond
If you plead guilty and pay the fine through ePlead, your case closes when ready. You will receive a confirmation email with your receipt number. The fine will be processed within one to three business days. Your driving record will be updated with the violation and points within 10 to 15 days.
If you plead not guilty, the court will mail you a notice with your hearing date, time, and location within two to four weeks. The notice will also explain how to request a phone or video hearing if you do not want to appear in person. You do not need to do anything else until you receive that notice — do not call the court before then.
If you request a traffic safety course, you will receive instructions by mail on how to register for an approved course in your area. You must complete the course and submit proof to the court before your hearing date. Once the court receives proof of completion, the violation may be dismissed.
When ePlead Is Not Available for Your Ticket
ePlead does not work for parking tickets, which are handled by the Parking Violations Bureau in New York City or by local parking departments outside the city. Parking tickets have a separate response system.
Some traffic tickets issued by city police in New York City may go through a different system called the Criminal Justice Court Information System (CJIS) instead of ePlead. If your ticket does not appear in ePlead after you enter your information, call the court listed on your ticket to confirm which system handles your case.
If your ticket was issued more than 30 days ago and you have not yet responded, you may not be able to use ePlead. Call the court when ready to ask about your options. The court may allow you to respond late if you have a valid reason, but this is not may provide.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
If the system says "Case not found" when you enter your information, double-check that you typed the case number and ticket number exactly as they appear on your ticket. Case numbers sometimes include letters or hyphens. If you are still getting an error, wait 24 hours — new tickets sometimes take a day to appear in the system. If it still does not work after 24 hours, call the court listed on your ticket.
If you forgot your password or cannot log back into ePlead, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page. You will receive a reset link by email. If you do not receive an email within 15 minutes, check your spam folder or call the DMV help line for ePlead support.
If you submitted your response but did not receive a confirmation email, log back into ePlead and check your case status. The system will show whether your response was recorded. If the status still shows "pending response," your submission may not have gone through — try submitting again. If you paid a fine and do not see it reflected in your account within three business days, contact the court directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my response after I submit it through ePlead?
No, once you submit your response, you cannot change it through ePlead. If you pleaded guilty and want to change to not guilty, call the court listed on your ticket as soon as possible. The court may allow you to withdraw your guilty plea if you ask within a reasonable time, but this is at the judge's discretion.
What if I do not have internet access or cannot use the website?
You can respond to your ticket by mail instead. Write a letter stating whether you plead guilty or not guilty, include your ticket number and case number, and mail it to the court address listed on your ticket. You must mail it before the 30-day important date. You can also call the court and ask about responding by phone.
Will pleading guilty through ePlead add points to my license?
Yes, most traffic violations add points to your driving record when you plead guilty. The number of points depends on the violation — speeding adds 3 to 11 points depending on how far over the limit you were. Points can raise your insurance rates and lead to license suspension if you accumulate too many. Ask the court about traffic safety course options before you plead guilty.
How long does it take to get a court date if I plead not guilty?
The court will mail you a hearing date within two to four weeks of your not guilty plea. The hearing itself may be scheduled one to three months after that, depending on the court's schedule. You can request a phone or video hearing when you receive the notice, which usually happens faster than an in-person appearance.
Can I pay my fine in installments through ePlead?
If the fine is over a certain amount (usually $250 or more), ePlead will offer a payment plan option when you plead guilty. You can choose to pay in two to four installments. If your fine is under that amount and you still need a payment plan, call the court to ask about options.