A prayer for judgment continued (PJC) is a procedure that may be available in traffic ticket court to allow a person who has received a traffic ticket or citation to avoid some or all of fines, penalties, and other consequences.

A PJC essentially allows the driver to plead guilty to the infraction or offense (or to be convicted by the judge or jury) and for the court/judge to continue the judgment or final effect of the guilty plea or conviction indefinitely—allowing the driver to avoid large fines, penalty points added to their driver’s license or record, increased insurance premiums, and possible suspension of their driver’s license.

In this context, a prayer is a request by the prosecutor/government to enter judgment (a final decision or determination) against the driver based on their guilty plea, and for the judge to indefinitely continue or postpone the entry of judgment, which prevents it from becoming final and effective.

Laws vary from state to state and in states where a PJC is an option, it is limited and in the judge’s discretion—a driver or household may only be allowed one PJC every few years, for example. But if a driver receives a more serious ticket or citation (with a significant fine or penalty points) and is unable to get it dismissed or reduced to a lesser infraction or offense, a PJC may be an option. A driver who gets a PJC may still be required to pay court costs, for example, as they are not classified as a penalty.

In Utah, the concept of a 'Prayer for Judgment Continued' (PJC) does not exist in the same form as it might in other states such as North Carolina, where it is more commonly recognized. Utah traffic courts do not offer a PJC as a standard option for dealing with traffic citations. Instead, Utah employs a system of plea in abeyance for certain traffic offenses. A plea in abeyance is an agreement between the defendant and the court where the defendant pleads guilty or no contest to a traffic violation, and the court agrees to dismiss the charge if the defendant meets certain conditions, such as paying a fee, completing a driving course, or not committing any further violations for a set period. If the conditions are met, the charge is dismissed, which can help the driver avoid points on their license and increased insurance premiums. However, if the conditions are not met, the court will enter a conviction, and the penalties will apply. The availability of a plea in abeyance is at the discretion of the court and may not be available for more serious offenses or for drivers with a poor driving record.