Petty Offense Docket and CVB Tickets

Central Violations Bureau (CVB)

The CVB is the national center charged with processing violation notices (tickets) issued, and payments received for petty offenses and traffic violations committed on federal property. For information on how to pay your ticket (on-line or by mail), please visit the CVB website at www.cvb.uscourts.gov , or contact the CVB directly at 1-800-827-2982. Please do not mail payment to the Court unless the Court directs you to do so.

Violation Notices (Tickets) Information

When a federal law enforcement agency issues a violation notice (ticket), it sends the original copy to the CVB, located in San Antonio, Texas. The CVB enters the ticket into its database and tracks the status of the ticket, including payment history, until the case is closed. If the CVB does not receive payment of the fine within 30 days of the ticket’s issuance, it will mail you a notice to appear in court by phone or video. This notice will give you two to three weeks’ notice of the date, time, and place you’re required to appear in court by phone or video.

If a ticket is marked “optional appearance” by the issuing officer, you may do one of the following:

• Pay the fine before the court date. The payment of the citation will not be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The case will thereby be closed, and you need not appear in court (or by phone or video).
• Contact the United States Attorney’s Office to discuss settlement of your violation notice. You may contact the Assistant United States Attorney assigned to the petty court docket by calling 828-271-4661.
• Do not pay the fine and appear in court on the scheduled date, time, and place to contest the ticket. You may also call the appropriate location as indicated below and ask to reschedule your appearance.

If a ticket is marked “mandatory appearance” by the issuing officer:

• You must appear in court on the scheduled date, time and place as indicated in CVB’s Notice to Appear or call the appropriate location as indicated and ask to reschedule your appearance.

Rescheduling

If you cannot appear in court at the scheduled date and time on the ticket, you must call the appropriate location to reschedule your appearance:

• Clerk's Office Telphone Number: (828) 771-7400.        

The Clerk’s Office may require that you submit your request in writing for submission to the Magistrate Judge.

To request a disposition of a matter after court is over, please contact the CVB directly.