It is a driver’s worst nightmare: You go to renew your vehicle registration, only to be told you can’t because of an “unpaid citation” from six months ago.
Suddenly, a $50 speed camera ticket has turned into a $150 debt with late fees.
Whether you moved to a new address, lost the mail, or just want peace of mind, you can check your vehicle’s status online for free. However, there is no single “National Database” for tickets. You have to check the specific city or state where you were driving.
Here is the 2026 Master Guide to official, free license plate lookups for the biggest speed trap zones in America.
The Golden Rule: Avoid the Scams
If you search “check speeding ticket” on Google, the top results are often third-party “Background Check” sites that ask for your credit card. Do not pay them.
Government databases are always free to search. If a site asks for $9.99 to “search records,” it is a scam. Use the official .gov or .org links below.
New York (NYC)
- What You Can Check: Speed cameras, red light cameras, and parking tickets.
- The Tool: [NYC CityPay Portal (a836-citypay.nyc.gov)]
- How to Use:
- Select “Search by License Plate.”
- Enter your plate number and state.
- If it says “No records found,” you are clear.
- Warning: It takes 14-30 days for a new camera ticket to appear online.
Washington D.C.
- What You Can Check: Automated Safety Camera (ASC) citations and parking tickets.
- The Tool: [DC DMV Adjudication Portal]
- How to Use:
- You usually need a ticket number, BUT you can use the [Ticket Alert Service (TAS)].
- Sign up for free to get notified by email/text whenever a ticket is issued to your plate. This is the only way to catch “lost” tickets before they double in price.
Illinois (Chicago)
- What You Can Check: Automated speed enforcement and red light tickets.
- The Tool: [City of Chicago Finance Portal]
- How to Use:
- Click “Pay, Check Status, or Search for Tickets.”
- Search by License Plate or Driver’s License Number.
- This database is very accurate and updates within 7-10 days of a violation.
Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
- What You Can Check: PPA speed camera tickets (Broad St/Roosevelt Blvd) and parking.
- The Tool: [Philadelphia Parking Authority (Philapark) Portal]
- How to Use:
- Enter your license plate number.
- The system will show any “Open” (unpaid) tickets.
- Note: PPA tickets do not add points, but 3 unpaid tickets can lead to your car being booted.
Maryland (Suburbs)
Maryland is tricky because it is handled by counties, not the state.
- Montgomery County: Use the [Montgomery County Speed Citation Lookup]. You can search by citation number or plate.
- Prince George’s County: Visit the [PG County Violation Payment Site].
- Baltimore City: Visit the [Baltimore City Parking & Automated Enforcement] portal.
California (Los Angeles, SF, Oakland)
Bad News: California does not have a statewide ticket database.
- How to Check: You must check the Superior Court website for the specific county where you were driving.
- Los Angeles: [LA Court Traffic Division]
- San Francisco: [SF Superior Court Traffic Portal]
- Orange County: [OC Courts Traffic Search]
- The Trap: If you don’t know where you got the ticket (e.g., on a road trip), there is no easy way to find it until the “Courtesy Notice” arrives in the mail. This makes having a real-time alert app even more critical.
Don’t Search for Damage. Prevent It.
Checking these websites is a reactive move. You are looking for a fine that has already happened.
If you find a ticket in Chicago, you owe $100. If you find one in Philly, you owe $100. The damage is done.
The only way to truly protect your wallet is to know about the camera before the flash goes off.
Ticketguard is the proactive solution. We warn you about speed traps, red light cameras, and enforcement zones in real-time. Stop worrying about what’s in your mailbox and start driving with confidence.
