Hall County residents can now pay traffic tickets and Department of Natural Resources citations online.

The move is a step forward for the county. Previously, people only could pay in person by cash, check or money order. Now, they can pay with debit and credit cards at paymyticket.hallcounty.org.

"I thought it was an option we needed to provide," Clerk of Court Charles Baker said. "People have been asking for a good long while if they could pay online."

Baker said many Georgia counties offer online payment services.

Baker said he has seen many people take advantage of the option since it became available Monday.

"It’s the first day and we’ve already got people paying," he said.

Payments can still be made at the Clerk of Court’s Office, which will accept credit cards in addition to cash, cashier checks and money orders.

People who use the system will pay for it. People who pay online will pay a $5 convenience fee plus 3 percent of the fine.

Those who wish to pay their tickets and citations online must realize that by doing so, they are admitting guilt, Baker said.

A notification will alert people before paying that they are pleading guilty to the violation. If a resident is required to appear in court, the service will not allow that person to pay online.

Residents with questions may contact the Traffic Violations Bureau at 770-531-7065, ticketpayments@hallcounty.org, or Hall County Courthouse, 225 Green St. SE, Gainesville.