Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte
The Missouri Fine Collection Center stopped accepting new traffic citations on May 1, 2019, so questions about your ticket and the Driver Improvement Program (DIP) now go to the court or bureau named on your ticket. Each county has a circuit violations bureau under Missouri Supreme Court Rule 38.10. The DIP itself still counts only when a court orders it and verifies you finished it, under RSMo 302.302.5.
Key Facts
- The FCC closed to new tickets: on May 1, 2019, the Missouri courts say. See what happened.
- Who takes tickets now: a circuit violations bureau in each county, under Rule 38.10. See who handles tickets now.
- Who orders the DIP: the court handling the ticket, under RSMo 302.302.5. See who orders the DIP now.
- Paying in full: payment before the court date counts as a guilty plea. See paying before the court date.
- The DOR FAQ: it still uses the old name. See the old name on the DOR FAQ.
What Happened to the Missouri Fine Collection Center
The Fine Collection Center (FCC) was a central office that processed certain ticket payments. It no longer takes new ones. The Missouri courts’ Statewide Fine Schedule page says, “Effective May 1, 2019, the Fine Collection Center (FCC) stopped accepting new citations for processing.”
The same page gives a second date. The FCC “processed payments for citations issued prior to May 1, 2019, until June 25, 2019.” That is the last date the courts give for FCC payments.
The change came from the Supreme Court of Missouri. An order dated Oct. 15, 2018, took effect May 1, 2019. It made three changes:
- It repealed subdivision 21.12 of Court Operating Rule 21, titled “Fine Collection Center.”
- It repealed Rule 38.11, “Filing a Violation With the Fine Collection Center.”
- It renamed Rule 38.10 as “Circuit Violations Bureau – Clerk – Payment.”
People who search missouri fcc driver improvement are looking for an office that no longer takes new tickets. The rest of this page explains who does that work now.
A Short Timeline
These dates come from Missouri court pages and a historical DOR page on 2009 law changes:
| Date | What changed | Where it is stated |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 28, 2009 | A new law let the centralized bureau order and accept the DIP in place of points | DOR page on 2009 law changes |
| Oct. 15, 2018 | The Supreme Court of Missouri ordered the FCC rules repealed | Supreme Court order |
| May 1, 2019 | The FCC stopped taking new citations; Rule 38.10 now covers county bureaus | Missouri courts |
| June 25, 2019 | The FCC stopped processing payments on older citations | Missouri courts |
The 2009 DOR page calls that bureau the “Centralized Violation Bureau (most commonly known as Fine Collection Center).” That is how the FCC became linked with the DIP.
What the FCC Had to Do With the DIP
Today the DIP rests on a court order. RSMo 302.302.5 says the program counts “when so ordered and verified by any court having jurisdiction.” The law then adds a bureau option.
That option is still in the statute. It says “a court using a centralized violation bureau established under section 476.385” may have the bureau “order and verify completion of a driver-improvement program.” The choice belongs to the court.
RSMo 476.385 is the bureau law. It says “There shall be a centralized bureau to be established by supreme court rule.” It does not use the name Fine Collection Center.
The same section ties payment to the DIP. A person who pays through the bureau “also consents to attendance either online or in person at any driver-improvement program or motorcycle-rider training course” the court orders.
Who Handles Tickets Now
County bureaus now fill the payment role in the court rules. Supreme Court Rule 38.10(a) says, “Each judicial circuit shall establish by court order a circuit violations bureau in each county within the circuit.”
The court named on your ticket is your contact. The Missouri courts’ Responding to Your Ticket page says, “You MUST respond to your ticket by the court date shown on the citation.” It also warns that failing to respond “may also result in suspension of your driver’s license.”
Some tickets can be handled online. The courts’ Pay Tickets Online page covers Plead and Pay for eligible tickets. Viewing the fine there is not a guilty plea, but completing the payment is.
To find a case, the courts run Case.net. It “is not considered an official court record,” and some city courts are not on it. Our ticket lookup guide shows how to search.
Who Orders the DIP Now
The court handling your ticket orders the DIP. That rule did not change when the FCC closed. RSMo 302.302.5 still names “any court having jurisdiction over any law of this state regulating motor vehicles.”
The statute still has the bureau option described above. No official page we read says which county bureaus use it. So ask the court or bureau named on your ticket how a DIP order works there.
The Missouri Safety Center agrees that the court decides. Its DIP page says “this decision is made by the court on a case by case basis.” Our guide to court-ordered driver improvement explains what an order means.
Paying Before the Court Date
Payment has a legal effect. Rule 38.10(d) says, “Full payment received before the court date and time for initial appearance constitutes a guilty plea.” It also counts as a waiver of trial.
RSMo 476.385 says the same for bureau payments. Payment “shall constitute a plea of guilty, waiver of trial and a conviction.”
A conviction leads to points under RSMo 302.302 unless a DIP order keeps them off. Speeding is 3 points under state law and 2 under a city or county ordinance.
Whether to pay, contest or ask about the DIP is a choice for you and the court. Our guide to ticket options lays out each path.
The Old Name on the DOR FAQ
The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) FAQ still uses the old name. Its Tickets and Points FAQ says, “In certain cases, the court or the Fine Collections Center may authorize you to complete a Driver Improvement Program (DIP).”
The courts say the FCC stopped taking new citations in 2019. The statute also uses different words for the result.
It says the DIP is accepted “in lieu of the assessment of points” for that ticket. Where the DOR FAQ and the statute differ, the statute controls.
Other parts of that FAQ are still useful. It links to the Missouri Safety Center list of acceptable DIP providers. It also gives the DOR address for the completion form and a phone line, 573-526-2407.
The DIP Rules Did Not Change
Closing the FCC did not change the DIP rules in RSMo 302.302.5. Each of these still applies:
- A court order: the court on your ticket must order and verify the DIP.
- One ticket: when it counts, the DOR adds no points for that ticket. The conviction stays.
- The clock: the course must be done within 60 days of the conviction date.
- The limit: it counts no more than once in any 36-month period.
- The report: the court forwards a completion record to the DOR within 15 days.
- The format: online or in person, from the Safety Center list the DOR links to.
- Who is left out: anyone who has or must have a CDL, and any ticket in a commercial vehicle. Motorcycle tickets need a rider course.
Our pillar guide on the DIP for a speeding ticket covers these rules in one place.
Questions to Ask the Court or Bureau
With the FCC gone, the court or bureau on your ticket is the place for answers. These questions follow the rules above:
- Which office handles my case? Your citation names the court.
- How do I respond by my court date? The courts say you must respond by the date on the citation.
- Will the court consider the DIP for this ticket? Only the court can order it.
- What will my conviction date be? The 60-day clock for the course starts on that date.
- How will my completion reach the DOR? The law gives the court 15 days to forward it.
Write down the answers and the date you asked. Keep them with your ticket.
What We Found on the Official Pages
On the official pages we checked on October 27, 2026, the sources did not all agree:
- Missouri courts: the Statewide Fine Schedule page said the FCC stopped taking new citations on May 1, 2019.
- Rule 38.10: it carried the heading for circuit violations bureaus and made full payment a guilty plea. It did not mention the DIP.
- RSMo 302.302.5: it still let a court using a centralized bureau have that bureau order and verify the DIP.
- DOR FAQ: it still said the court “or the Fine Collections Center” may authorize the DIP.
When pages differ, follow the statute and the court on your ticket.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Each item below is built from court rules, the statute or the DOR FAQ:
- Trying to reach the FCC. It stopped taking new citations on May 1, 2019.
- Trusting the old FAQ wording. The DOR FAQ still names the FCC.
- Missing the court date. The courts say you must respond by the date on the citation.
- Treating payment as a simple bill. Full payment before the court date is a guilty plea.
- Expecting a bureau to grant the DIP on its own. The law ties it to the court.
- Expecting the ticket to leave your record. The conviction stays, even with a DIP.
How Requirements Can Vary
Missouri’s point values, suspension levels and Driver Improvement Program rules come from Missouri law (RSMo 302.302 and 302.304) and apply statewide. Whether a court orders the DIP for your ticket, and how your case is handled, is up to the court on your ticket. Fines and court costs depend on the court and the charge.
Laws, forms and court practice can change. Check your ticket, any court order, the Missouri DOR website and the Missouri Revised Statutes before you enroll or pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Missouri Fine Collection Center still open?
No. The Missouri courts say the FCC stopped accepting new citations on May 1, 2019. It processed payments on older citations until June 25, 2019.
Who handles my Missouri ticket now?
The court named on your ticket does. Under Rule 38.10, each county has a circuit violations bureau. Your citation shows the court and your court date.
Can the FCC authorize the DIP?
No. The FCC no longer takes new tickets. Under RSMo 302.302.5, the court handling your ticket orders and verifies the DIP.
How do I contact the Fine Collection Center?
There is no current FCC office for new tickets. Contact the court or bureau named on your ticket instead. For points questions, the DOR lists 573-526-2407 and [email protected].
Why does the DOR FAQ still mention the FCC?
We found no official explanation. The courts say the FCC stopped taking new citations on May 1, 2019, while the DOR FAQ still names it. When the two differ, the statute and the court on your ticket control.
What is a circuit violations bureau?
It is a county office set up under Rule 38.10, the rule that once covered the FCC. Rule 38.10(a) says each judicial circuit must set up one “in each county within the circuit.” Each one is set up by court order.
Does paying my ticket count as a guilty plea?
Yes. Rule 38.10(d) says full payment before the court date “constitutes a guilty plea.” RSMo 476.385 says payment is also a waiver of trial and a conviction.
Where does my DIP completion go now?
The statute says the court forwards a completion record to the DOR within 15 days. The DOR FAQ also says “you or the program may mail the completion form” to the DOR in Jefferson City.
Conclusion
The Fine Collection Center no longer takes new tickets, so your court or county bureau is the place to start. The DIP still needs a court order, a finish within 60 days of conviction and a completion record sent to the DOR. If your court has ordered the DIP, you can take the Missouri Driver Improvement Program online.
Related Articles
- Missouri Driver Improvement Program for a Speeding Ticket: What to Know
- Missouri Traffic Ticket Lookup: How to Find Your Ticket
- Missouri Court-Ordered Driver Improvement: What It Means and What to Do
- Missouri Speeding Ticket Options: Pay, Contest, or Request DIP
Sources
- Missouri Courts — Statewide Fine Schedule
- Missouri Supreme Court Rule 38.10 — Circuit Violations Bureau
- Missouri Revised Statutes 476.385 — Centralized violations bureau and schedule of fines
- Missouri Revised Statutes 302.302 — Point system
- Missouri DOR — Tickets and Points FAQs
- Missouri Safety Center — Driver Improvement Program
- Missouri Courts — Responding to Your Ticket
- Missouri Courts — Pay Tickets Online (Plead and Pay, Pay By Web)
- Missouri Courts — Case.net
Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a driver improvement course provider serving Missouri and other U.S. states.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Driver Improvement Program rules, point values, fines and penalties depend on your ticket, court and case facts, and they can change. Use official Missouri DOR, Missouri Revised Statutes and court sources, and consult a qualified Missouri attorney for advice about your own case.