If you are ticketed or arrested in the city of Detroit for a traffic violation or a city ordinance violation, your case will be processed in the Traffic and Ordinance Division. This division handles the following types of cases:

- Civil infraction traffic violations such as: speeding, illegal turns, going through a red light, etc. These traffic violations are non-criminal.
- Misdemeanor traffic violations that can result in arrest. These violations are criminal in nature and the maximum penalty for crimes in this category is a fine up to $1000 and/or 90 days in jail.
- City ordinance violations that are criminal offenses such as: violations of the gun law, prostitution, disorderly conduct, and drug offenses that violate city ordinance rather than state law.
- Environmental cases are criminal matters that include building safety, hazardous waste and littering offenses.

If you are charged with a civil infraction violation, you must respond to the ticket.   Your options are:

- To admit responsibility for the violation and pay the amount indicated on the ticket. This may be done in person at the court or by mail.
- To admit responsibility with an explanation attached to the ticket describing any special circumstances. Your written explanation must state that you are admitting responsibility and  must be signed.  A magistrate will review the ticket and your explanation. You will be notified by mail of the magistrate's decision.
- To deny responsibility. You must contact the Court, either by mail, telephone, representation or in person, within 21 days to deny responsibility. You may request an informal hearing before a magistrate, or a formal hearing before a judge. In an informal hearing, there are no attorneys. You and the issuing officer will present the facts and a magistrate will make a decision. If you request a formal hearing before a judge, you may retain the services of an attorney to represent you, and the issuing officer will have a member of the Prosecutor's office present.

Failure to respond to a civil infraction within the allowed time period will result in the entry of a default judgment against the driver. Points will be placed on the driver's record and the secretary of state may suspend the driver's license. Before driving privileges can be restored, it will be necessary to pay the judgment amount as well as any late fees and a mandatory license reinstatement fee.