Tulsans Confused About Tickets

By Lori Fullbright, News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Nearly 90,000 tickets are issued in the City of Tulsa every year. Sixty-three thousand of those folks don't have to show up for court, but many don't realize it.

They don't need to take off work and go before a judge; they just need to pay the fine. Technology is allowing people to pay those fines online.

Presiding Judge Dan Crawford says city courts get clogged with people who get tickets for a dog at large or driving without insurance, when in fact, those people don't need to show up for court at all.

They just need to pay the fine that's written on the front of the ticket.

"We want to focus on crimes of violence, serious crimes. We can't do that if the court is clogged with non-violent, simple misdemeanors that don't require jail time, just a dollar amount," said Presiding Judge Dan Crawford, Tulsa City Courts.

The city courts now have a website that can tell you which tickets require a court appearance and which ones don't along with other valuable information, like how to get a friend out of jail.

You can also pay up to seven tickets at one time with a credit card on the secure site.

"Most tickets you get in the City of Tulsa have a dollar amount on the front. They're not crimes of violence or drugs or alcohol and there's no reason to come to court and miss four hours of work when you can pay online in 90 seconds and avoid that," said Judge Crawford.

75% of the 90,000 tickets issued could be handled this way. You can also mail the fine or pay at the cashier's window outside the courtrooms. It's all about saving you time.

"Every day we have people in court who didn't have to come, had they known the answer to a simple question they could've found online," said Judge Crawford.

Just remember: if you don't pay, there will be a warrant out for your arrest and for that, you will have to go to court.

Click here to visit the Tulsa City Courts website.