Refer to the following to find out what traffic and regulatory offences are.
Common traffic offences include (but are not limited to) speeding, illegal parking or reckless driving. If you have committed a traffic offence, you will be issued a traffic ticket notice or notice from a prosecuting agency such as the:
Common regulatory offences include (but are not limited to) smoking in prohibited areas or camping without a permit.
If you have committed a regulatory offence, you will be issued a notice from a prosecuting agency such as the:
Depending on the nature of your traffic or regulatory offence, you will have to either pay the offer of composition or attend court. Refer to the following to find out more, and what you need to do if you are charged.
A traffic offence is considered minor if there is an offer of composition stated on the notice or traffic ticket notice you receive. This is the sum of money you will have to pay to settle the ticket or notice without going to court.
View a sample of a traffic offence notice.
You can pay the amount stated by NETS or credit card at AXS kiosks located island-wide, on the AXS website or through the AXS app. This action of paying the offer of composition is also known as compounding an offence.
Find out how to pay your offer of composition.
A regulatory offence is considered minor if there is an offer of composition stated on the notice you receive. This is the sum of money you will have to pay to settle the ticket or notice without going to court.
You can pay the amount stated by NETS or credit card at AXS kiosks located island-wide, on the AXS website or through the AXS app. This action of paying the offer of composition is also known as compounding an offence.
Find out how to pay your offer of composition.
If you have committed a traffic or regulatory offence and there is no offer of composition on your notice or summons, you are required to attend Night Court or Traffic Court. The same notice or summons will state the date, time and the location of the court you are required to attend.
Refer to Chapter 3: Mentions Court of the Guidebook for Accused in Person (PDF, 385 KB)
Refer to I have a Town Council Case (PDF, 243 KB)
You should compound your offence before the expiry date of your offer of composition. If you fail to do this, you will have to attend Night Court on the time and date stated on the same traffic ticket or notice to answer the charges against you.
If you are convicted in court, the fine imposed will generally be higher than the amount offered for composition. The court may potentially also impose some other punishments. It is therefore in your interest to:
You can plead guilty electronicallyand pay a court fine for certain prescribed offences instead of attending court, if your offer of composition has expired.
This must be done through the Automated Traffic Offence Management System (ATOMS) at an AXS kiosk by 5pm on the court date stated in your ticket or notice.
Composition is offered by the prosecuting agencies, subject to their discretion. Some reasons why you are not offered composition may include:
You may wish to contact the prosecuting agency for further information.
This could be due to:
You may wish to approach the relevant prosecuting agency to seek permission to pay the composition sum in instalments.
It is up to the prosecuting agency to decide whether this will be allowed.
You may then include your reasons or circumstances with supporting documents (if any) in your representations. Bring a copy of your representations along on the day of your court hearing, together with the acknowledgement (if any) by the prosecuting agency of its receipt of the representations.
The information here is for general guidance as the courts do not provide legal advice. If you need further help, you may seek independent legal advice or community resources.
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