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 Mississippi, traffic tickets or citations for moving violations are issued by law enforcement officers when a driver is suspected of violating 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 infractions, are also enforced through citations and typically require the owner of the vehicle to pay a fine or contest the charge in court. In Mississippi, most traffic violations are treated as misdemeanor offenses, which means they are criminal in nature. This classification requires that the accused may have to appear in court, and guilt or innocence is determined by a judge or, in some cases, a jury. However, some minor traffic offenses may be considered civil infractions, where the determination is simply whether the driver is responsible or not responsible for the violation. The specific classification and process for handling a traffic ticket can vary depending on the nature of the offense and the local jurisdiction's rules.