What if my citation provides for an “Optional Court Appearance”?

You have four choices under the “Optional Appearance” specification:

• Pay the citation (payment automatically enters your no contest plea).  See additional information on payment options below.
• Contest the citation (contesting will enter your “not guilty” plea to the alleged offense).  Check the NOT GUILTY box on your citation, sign and print your name clearly and provide your current mailing address (include city, state, zip) as this is how you will be notified by the Court of the date and time of your hearing.  Return the signed citation to the City of Fairbanks at 800 Cushman Street, Fairbanks, AK, 99701.  The Alaska Court System will provide notice to you of the trial date and time .  If you fail to appear for your trial, a default judgment may be entered against you for the maximum fine permitted by law and a $20 surcharge, plus $70 in court and collection costs.  Please note that by contesting your citation, you will no longer be eligible to apply for the Defensive Driving Dismissal Program.  For more information regarding court dates, call the Alaska Court System at (907) 452-9225.
• Request to participate in the City’s Defensive Driving Dismissal Program.  If you wish to apply for the Program, DO NOT PAY YOUR CITATION until you have applied for and completed the program.  As part of the program, you may take an approved defensive driving course and pay the fine and surcharge to have your citation dismissed.  To qualify:  you cannot have a current Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), you cannot have had any moving violations in the last two years, you cannot have taken a defensive driving course within the last two years, and the points on your citation must be four points or less.   You must appear at the City Clerks Office, 800 Cushman Street, Fairbanks, before the “COURT APPEARANCE” date in order to enroll in the Program.
• Have a judge explain the charges and your rights to you before entering a plea.  Check the appropriate box on your citation and complete the required information.  The Alaska Court System will provide notice and instruction to you .  This option will not schedule a trial.  Please note that by choosing this option, you will no longer be eligible to apply for the Defensive Driving Dismissal Program.