In the United States, people who are given a citation by a police officer can plead guilty and pay the indicated fine directly to the court house, by mail, or on the Internet.
The person may also request a trial by a written declaration in the following states: California, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oregon, and Wyoming.
Some municipalities process guilty pleas of this nature without the presence of an actual judge, whereas others may require one to appear in court.
In most of New York State, for example, traffic matters are heard in the court for the city, town, or village where the alleged violation happened.
A similar process is followed in Tennessee, though many southern states have varying procedures for paying the fine as a form of pleading guilty.