If you have received a traffic ticket, many times you are given instructions on how much your fine will be and that you can just send in the money. Some jurisdictions even allow you to pay on line. Although it may be convenient, you should never just pay a traffic fine. By doing so you are pleading guilty to a moving violation. This conviction will go on your driving record. If you accumulate too many moving-violation convictions in a set amount of time, your license could be suspended. In addition your insurance carrier will monitor your driving record at renewal time and moving violation convictions will increase your premiums substantially. Instead you should contact a competent attorney to represent you. Most of the time your attorney can get your charge amended to a non-moving violation which will not appear on your driving record. You will still pay a fine and court costs, but your record will be clean. You will usually pay an attorney less in fees than the increase in your insurance premiums would be if you were convicted of a moving violation. No matter how careful you are, you may still get a ticket once in a while. This doesn't make you a bad driver. Remember it is much easier to keep your driving record clean than it is to get it clean once you have convictions.