A speeding ticket in a national park is a federal citation, not a state traffic ticket. A park ranger issues it under Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and the case is processed by the U.S. District Court through the Central Violations Bureau. Fines usually run from about $100 to $350 depending on how far over the limit you were driving, plus a $30 processing fee, and paying the ticket counts as a guilty plea to a federal petty offense.
Why the Ticket Is Federal
National parks are federal land. The traffic rules inside them come from federal regulations rather than your state’s vehicle code, and rangers are federal law enforcement officers. That changes the venue, the paperwork, and the record. Your case goes to a U.S. District Court and a federal magistrate judge, not a county traffic court. Payment goes to a federal clerk, not the state. And a conviction is a federal one, even for something as ordinary as driving 55 in a 45.
State traffic law still applies as a baseline inside park boundaries unless a specific federal rule overrides it.1eCFR. 36 CFR 4.2 – State Law Applicable For speed, the federal rule usually does override it.
Park Speed Limits Are Lower Than You Think
The default federal speed limits in parks catch a lot of drivers off guard:
- 15 mph in school zones, campgrounds, picnic areas, parking areas, residential and business areas, and emergency scenes.
- 25 mph on road sections under repair or construction.
- 45 mph on all other park roads.
A wide, well-paved park road may feel like a 55 or 60 mph highway, but the federal ceiling is 45 unless a sign says otherwise. Park superintendents can adjust the limit up or down for a specific stretch, and any change will be posted with standard signs.2eCFR. 36 CFR 4.21 – Speed Limits No sign, no exception: the defaults above apply.
What the Fine Will Be
The exact fine is printed on your violation notice, and each federal district publishes its own collateral forfeiture schedule, so amounts vary by park. As a rough guide:
- 1–9 mph over: around $100
- 10–25 mph over: around $200
- 26 mph or more over: around $350
Every violation notice also carries a $30 administrative processing fee on top of the base fine.3Central Violations Bureau. Where Does the Money Go When I Pay a Ticket?
One point worth pausing on: paying the fine is a guilty plea to a federal petty offense. There is no informal “just pay it and forget it” here. Once you send in the money, you have a federal conviction on that charge.
How To Pay
Payments go to the Central Violations Bureau, which handles all U.S. District Court violation notices issued on federal property.4Central Violations Bureau. Central Violations Bureau Two options:
- Online at cvb.uscourts.gov, which routes to the federal Pay.gov portal. Online payments post by the next business day.
- By mail with a check or money order (no cash) to the Central Violations Bureau, P.O. Box 780549, San Antonio, TX 78278-0549. Include the CVB Location Code, Violation Number, and payment amount.
You’ll need the Location Code and Violation Number from the ticket itself for either method.5Central Violations Bureau. Pay a Ticket If you try to pay online and don’t see your ticket yet, don’t panic. It can take up to 45 days for a ticket to reach the CVB after being issued, and longer delays happen.6Central Violations Bureau. Why Isn’t My Ticket Showing Up in the System?
When You Must Appear in Court
Not every park ticket lets you pay and be done. For more serious violations, including excessive speed and reckless driving, the ranger will check “Box A” on the violation notice. Box A means a mandatory appearance before a federal magistrate judge, and paying the fine is not an option.7Central Violations Bureau. Central Violations Bureau – Sample Violation Notice The date, time, and courthouse should be on the notice; if they aren’t, the court will send them by mail.
If you were ticketed far from where you live, ask the court listed on your notice whether it allows video or telephone appearances for petty offenses. Some do; some don’t. It’s worth a call before booking a flight.
Contesting the Ticket
If you want to fight the ticket instead of paying, follow the instructions on the violation notice or the CVB website to notify the court. Your case will be heard in a U.S. District Court by a federal magistrate judge. A federal prosecutor represents the government, and the citing ranger usually appears as a witness. You can present evidence, cross-examine the ranger, and make your argument. Expect more formality than a state traffic hearing.
Getting a Lawyer
You can hire a private attorney, and for a mandatory court appearance that’s worth thinking about seriously. A court-appointed lawyer, on the other hand, is not guaranteed. Under the federal rules, the court is not required to appoint counsel for petty offenses.8Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 58 – Petty Offenses and Other Misdemeanors An ordinary speeding ticket falls into that category, so plan on paying for your own lawyer if you want one.
Traffic School
Some federal jurisdictions let you resolve a violation notice by completing a driver education course, similar to traffic school in state courts. It isn’t available everywhere. Ask before you pay or appear, and contact the CVB to find out whether the court handling your case offers it.9Central Violations Bureau. Can I Take Drivers Course/Traffic School/Defensive Driving? Where it’s offered, it can help you avoid a conviction on your record.
If You’re Convicted and Want To Appeal
If the magistrate judge finds you guilty, you have 14 days from the judgment to file an appeal. The appeal goes to a U.S. District Court judge, who reviews the existing record rather than holding a new trial.8Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 58 – Petty Offenses and Other Misdemeanors The 14-day deadline is firm. Miss it and you almost certainly lose the right to appeal, so start the paperwork the day you get the judgment.
Effect on Your State Record and Insurance
Whether a federal park conviction reaches your home state driving record isn’t uniform. The CVB warns that if you fail to pay or appear, the federal court may report that failure to your state’s motor vehicle agency, which can affect your driving privileges or vehicle registration.10Central Violations Bureau. What Happens If I Don’t Pay the Ticket or Appear in Court? Some federal districts have said that simply paying will not be reported to a state DMV, but practices vary. Assume the conviction could reach your state record, especially if payment or a deadline goes sideways.
If it does reach your state, the DMV applies its own point system, typically zero to three points for an out-of-state speeding conviction depending on the state. Insurance premiums often rise after a speeding conviction, with increases commonly in the range of 8% to 39% depending on the insurer and your driving history. Both are reasons to weigh contesting the ticket, or asking about traffic school, before you write a check.
Do Not Ignore the Notice
Ignoring a federal violation notice is a bad move. If the court doesn’t receive payment or a response by the deadline, it can issue a summons or a warrant for your arrest.10Central Violations Bureau. What Happens If I Don’t Pay the Ticket or Appear in Court? For motor vehicle violations, it can also report the nonpayment to your state licensing agency, which may suspend your license or block your registration. A $150 ticket can turn into a federal warrant and a suspended license quickly. Pay it, contest it, or ask about traffic school. Don’t leave it in a drawer.