A traffic ticket or citation is a document written by a police officer that alleges the driver (operator) of a motor vehicle committed a violation of state or local traffic laws while the motor vehicle was moving (also known as a moving violation).

A ticket or citation issued to the owner of a motor vehicle for violation of a state or local law that is alleged to have occurred while the vehicle was not moving (such as a parking violation)—and tickets or citations issued to pedestrians or operators of bikes, skateboards, or other non-motor vehicles for illegal use of streets, sidewalks, and other driveways—are known as nonmoving violations. A ticket or citation for illegal parking or another nonmoving violation usually requires the person to pay a fine by a certain date or appear in court to contest the charge.

A traffic ticket or citation usually requires the driver to pay a fine by a certain date or appear in court to contest the charge. In some states traffic violations are low-level misdemeanor criminal offenses—but in other states traffic tickets are classified as infractions or civil offenses. If a ticket or citation is classified as a criminal offense the driver's guilt or innocence will be determined by a jury or judge. But if a ticket or citation is classified as a civil infraction, violation, or offense the driver will be determined (adjudged) to be responsible or not responsible.

In Maryland, traffic tickets or citations for moving violations are issued by police officers to drivers who are alleged to have violated state or local traffic laws while operating a motor vehicle. These violations can range from speeding to running a red light. Nonmoving violations, such as parking tickets, are issued to vehicle owners for infractions that occur while the vehicle is stationary. Both types of violations typically require the payment of a fine by a specified date or necessitate an appearance in court to dispute the charge. In Maryland, most traffic violations are treated as civil infractions rather than criminal offenses. This means that the determination of responsibility is made by a judge or in some cases an administrative hearing officer, rather than by a jury. However, more serious traffic offenses, such as driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while impaired (DWI), can be classified as misdemeanors or felonies and may involve criminal proceedings.