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 Washington State, traffic tickets or citations for moving violations are issued by police officers when a driver is suspected of violating state or local traffic laws while the vehicle is in motion. These can include speeding, running a red light, or driving under the influence, among others. Nonmoving violations, on the other hand, pertain to incidents where the vehicle is stationary, such as parking violations, or to offenses committed by pedestrians or operators of non-motor vehicles. In Washington, traffic violations can be classified as infractions, which are civil offenses, or as misdemeanors, which are criminal offenses, depending on the severity of the violation. For civil infractions, the driver can either pay the fine or contest the charge in court. If contested, a judge (not a jury) will determine if the driver is responsible. For criminal traffic offenses, the driver may be required to appear in court, and the case could be decided by a judge or a jury, depending on the circumstances. It's important to note that failing to respond to a traffic ticket in Washington can result in additional penalties, including license suspension.