Traffic Citation vs. Ticket: What's the Difference?



Motorists who receive a traffic ticket have good reason to be bummed. A ticket normally comes with a fine of $150 or more, a possible court appearance, and a likely bump in auto insurance. It’s an expensive and time-consuming infraction. Maybe you’ve wondered whether there’s a difference between a traffic citation and a traffic ticket. It’s pretty easy to explain: there’s no difference. The terms are interchangeable and which term is used is all up to the ticketing officer or police department. Citation or ticket, you’ll still be penalized, fined, and perhaps get points on your license. One isn’t any better or worse than the other. A traffic warning, on the other hand, is simply a slap on the wrist with encouragement to be more cautious in the future.