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 West Virginia (WV), traffic tickets or citations are issued to drivers who are alleged to have violated state or local traffic laws. Moving violations occur when the vehicle is in motion, such as speeding or running a red light, and nonmoving violations involve incidents where the vehicle is stationary, like parking violations. For both types of violations, the recipient of the ticket is typically required to either pay a fine by a specified date or appear in court to contest the charge. In WV, most traffic violations are treated as misdemeanors or infractions rather than serious criminal offenses. This means that the adjudication process for a traffic ticket usually does not involve a jury but is handled by a judge or a magistrate who determines whether the driver is guilty or not guilty. If the offense is considered a civil infraction, the terminology used is 'responsible' or 'not responsible.' It's important to note that accumulating traffic violations can lead to points on a driver's license and potentially result in license suspension or revocation, depending on the severity and frequency of the offenses.