Traffic Violations

Paying Traffic Tickets in Hawaii

4 min read

If you've received a traffic or parking citation in Hawaii, it's crucial to address it promptly to avoid additional penalties. Hawaii law requires that you respond to a citation within 21 calendar days of issuance. Below are the methods available for paying your traffic tickets, along with eligibility criteria and important considerations.

Online Payment via eTraffic Hawaiʻi

The eTraffic Hawaiʻi system offers a fast, secure, and convenient way to pay for traffic or parking infractions that don't require a court appearance and for which you admit responsibility.

Eligibility for Online Payment

You can use the eTraffic Hawaiʻi system if:

Your citation is eligible for online payment (i.e., it does not require a court appearance).
You are paying within 21 days of receiving the citation.
Your citation has been entered into the court's system (this may take up to 13 days after the violation).

Note: Do not use this system if:

You wish to contest the citation.
Your citation requires a court appearance.
More than 21 days have passed since you received the citation.
You have appeared in court and were ordered to pay fines, fees, or other costs.

Payment Process

To pay online:

Visit the eTraffic Hawaiʻi website.
Have your traffic or parking citation number and your license plate number ready.
Use a valid Visa or MasterCard for payment.

A processing fee will be charged, and the total amount owed will be displayed before you pay.

Payment by Mail

If you prefer to pay by mail:

Use the pre-addressed envelope provided with your citation, or use a regular envelope addressed to the District Court located in the area where you received the citation.
Include a copy of the citation.
Do not send cash. Acceptable payment methods include imprinted checks or money orders (U.S. dollars only, payable to “DISTRICT COURT”) and credit or debit cards (Visa or MasterCard).

Mailing Address Example:

District Court of the First Circuit
Kauikeaouli Hale
1111 Alakea Street
Honolulu, HI 96813

Please verify the correct mailing address based on the location of your citation.

Payment by Phone

To pay by phone:

Call the Hawaii State Judiciary's payment line at (800) 679–5949.
Ensure you have your citation number, license plate number, and credit or debit card information ready.

Note: Phone payments are subject to the same eligibility criteria as online payments.

In-Person Payment

You may also pay your citation in person at any District Court in the state of Hawaii.

Accepted Payment Methods:

Imprinted checks or money orders (U.S. dollars only, payable to “DISTRICT COURT”).
Credit or debit cards (Visa or MasterCard).

Important: Do not send cash. A $25 service charge will be assessed for dishonored payments.

District Court Locations:

Oʻahu (First Circuit):
- Kauikeaouli Hale: 1111 Alakea Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
- ʻEwa-Pearl City Division: 870 Fourth Street, Pearl City, HI 96782
- Kāneʻohe Division: 45-939 Pookela Street, Kāneʻohe, HI 96744
- Wahiawā Division: 1034 Kilani Avenue, Wahiawā, HI 96786
- Waiʻanae Division: 4675 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, HI 96707

Please check the Hawaii State Judiciary website for locations on other islands.

Late Payments and Collections

Failure to respond to a citation within 21 days may result in additional penalties, including:

Default judgment against you.
Referral to collections agencies, such as Pioneer Credit Recovery.

If your ticket has been sent to collections:

Visit hawaiiselfserve.com to make a payment.
Or call Pioneer Credit Recovery at 1-866-802-0053.

Before calling, look up your case using the eCourt Kokua database and make note of the Case ID.

Contesting a Citation

If you wish to contest your citation or explain mitigating circumstances:

Do not pay the fine online.
Follow the instructions on the back of your citation to request a hearing or submit a written statement.
Submit your request within 21 days of receiving the citation.

For more information on contesting a traffic ticket, refer to Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Hawaii.

Additional Resources

For further information on traffic violations and related topics in Hawaii, you may find the following resources helpful:

Always ensure to address traffic citations promptly to avoid additional penalties and maintain a clean driving record.