Peru is the Miami County seat and the county's principal center for traffic court, the Clerk's Office, the Prosecutor, BMV services, and local government.
Its driving environment is also substantially different from the county's smaller towns. Peru sits close to the U.S. 24/U.S. 31 interchange, State Road 19 connects the city with surrounding Miami County, and downtown streets including Broadway and Main Street carry local traffic around the courthouse and business district. INDOT identifies the U.S. 24/U.S. 31 interchange at Peru.
ABetterDriver.com is currently listed by the Indiana BMV as an approved Driver Safety Program provider offering its course online. Every approved DSP lasts at least four hours, and ABetterDriver currently advertises the Indiana online DSP for $28.95.
Which Court Handles a Peru Traffic Ticket?
Miami County's current local court rules assign all traffic-infraction and ordinance-violation cases to Miami Superior Court I. Your Miami County foundation also confirms that traffic-related criminal matters are generally assigned there.
Miami Superior Court I
Miami Superior Court I Miami County Courthouse 25 N. Broadway, Room 300 Peru, IN 46970 Phone: 765-472-2428
Miami Superior Court I maintains a dedicated Traffic Violation Division. Current court instructions state that a driver charged with a minor traffic offense can appear, contest the citation, or resolve a payable citation through the Clerk when appropriate.
The citation and Indiana MyCase remain the final authority for your individual case.
Miami County Clerk and Traffic Tickets
Miami County Clerk of Courts 25 N. Broadway, Room 208 Peru, IN 46970
The Clerk handles Miami County traffic-ticket payments and court records. Current traffic instructions direct drivers who intend to plead guilty to the Clerk's Office and also identify telephone and online payment options.
Do not assume paying the ticket and taking an online Driver Safety Program are interchangeable. Payment generally resolves the payable citation. The BMV DSP addresses a separate driver-record requirement or four-point-credit purpose.
What to Do After Getting a Peru Traffic Ticket
Read the citation carefully.
Confirm that Miami Superior Court I is listed.
Check the court date, payment deadline, or appearance requirement.
Search the case through Indiana MyCase when available.
Determine whether the citation is payable.
Investigate Miami County Pretrial Deferral before paying if you want to preserve that option.
Check whether the Indiana BMV separately requires a DSP.
If Miami Superior Court I orders a driving course, verify the exact course requirement.
Complete the correct requirement before its deadline.
Keep your court, payment, deferral, and course-completion records.
Peru Indiana Online Driver Safety Program
ABetterDriver.com offers an Indiana BMV-approved online Driver Safety Program.
BMV-Required Online Driver Safety Program
Indiana drivers can be required to complete an approved DSP because of their driving record.
When the BMV imposes the requirement, the driver currently has 90 days after notification to complete an approved program. Failure to comply can result in suspension.
Voluntary Indiana 4-Point Credit
Any Indiana driver can voluntarily complete a BMV-approved DSP and receive a four-point credit on the Official Driver Record.
The BMV currently permits the credit once every three years.
The four-point credit changes the point calculation. It does not erase a Peru traffic ticket or traffic conviction.
Court-Ordered Online Driving Courses
Miami Superior Court I can separately order a driver to complete a program.
The Indiana BMV distinguishes a court-ordered course from the statewide BMV DSP. Do not assume that every court order requires ABetterDriver.com's BMV-approved online course.
Miami County Pretrial Deferral for a Peru Traffic Ticket
Miami County has one of the better-documented traffic-ticket deferral programs in Indiana.
The Miami County Prosecutor currently states that qualifying motorists can enter Pretrial Deferral. If the participant successfully completes the agreement without another violation, the ticket is dismissed at the end of the program.
The current published fee is $192.50.
Who Can Be Disqualified From Miami County Deferral?
Current published reasons include:
Being younger than 18 at the time of the offense
Not holding a valid driver's license
Holding a CDL
Having an OWI conviction
Having a moving-violation judgment during the preceding year
Having entered another deferral agreement during the preceding year
Speeding more than 25 mph over the posted limit
Passing a school bus
Failing to yield to an emergency vehicle
Having a citation involving an accident
The Prosecutor retains discretion over eligibility.
Do Not Pay Before Investigating Deferral
Miami County's current instructions require the deferral application to reach the Prosecutor by noon on the working day before the court date printed on the citation.
A driver who simply pays the ticket can lose the opportunity to pursue deferral.
Does Miami County Deferral Require ABetterDriver?
No.
The current published Miami County rules do not state that every deferral participant must complete ABetterDriver.com or another BMV-approved online Driver Safety Program.
The programs serve different purposes:
Miami County Pretrial Deferral deals with a pending qualifying citation.
Indiana BMV Driver Safety Program deals with BMV requirements and the voluntary four-point credit.
Court-ordered course means whatever Miami Superior Court I specifically requires in an individual case.
Driving in Peru: U.S. 24, U.S. 31, SR 19, and Downtown Streets
Peru combines major regional highway access with a traditional downtown street grid.
A driver can move from U.S. 31 highway speeds to U.S. 24, then onto Broadway or another city street in a short period.
That requires deliberate speed adjustment and early lane selection.
U.S. 24 and U.S. 31
INDOT identifies the U.S. 24/U.S. 31 interchange at Peru.
U.S. 31 is part of INDOT's long-running effort to create a free-flow route between Indianapolis and South Bend. INDOT states that the corridor is being improved through interchanges, access-control changes, and elimination of remaining signalized and at-grade conflicts. Miami County improvements include the SR 18 and Business 31 interchange projects.
For Peru-area drivers, that means paying particular attention to:
Entrance ramps
Exit lanes
Higher travel speeds
Vehicles merging from U.S. 24
Trucks
Drivers unfamiliar with changing access patterns
Sudden slowing near interchange traffic
Future U.S. 31 Pavement Work Near U.S. 24
INDOT's current transportation program includes a future U.S. 31 pavement project extending from approximately one-half mile south of U.S. 24 to County Road 100 North, with construction funding programmed for fiscal year 2027.
Status: FUTURE/PROGRAMMED.
This should not be presented as active August 2026 construction.
State Road 19 and U.S. 24
State Road 19 is another major Peru-area route.
INDOT has previously completed substantial intersection work at U.S. 24 and SR 19, approximately 3.8 miles east of the U.S. 24/U.S. 31 interchange. The project documentation identifies U.S. 24 as a principal arterial and specifically addresses the U.S. 24/SR 19 intersection.
This is an important driving transition because SR 19 interacts more directly with local streets and property access than the free-flow portions of U.S. 31.
Broadway Through Downtown Peru
Broadway is one of Peru's principal downtown streets.
The current City traffic schedule establishes 25 mph on North Broadway from Main Street to Washington Avenue.
Downtown Broadway also contains multiple signalized intersections. Peru's current traffic schedule identifies traffic signals at Broadway and:
Main Street
Second Street
Third Street
Fifth Street
Sixth Street
Seventh Street
Drivers moving from U.S. highway traffic into downtown need to adjust quickly to lower speeds, closely spaced signals, pedestrians, turning vehicles, and curbside activity.
Peru Has Several One-Way Streets and Alleys
Drivers unfamiliar with downtown Peru should not assume every local street allows two-way travel.
The City's current traffic schedule includes:
Court Street from Main Street to Fifth Street: northbound
Riverside Drive from Broadway Avenue to Armstrong Street: westbound
Spring Street from South Broadway Street to Wabash Street: eastbound
Several downtown alleys with assigned eastbound, westbound, northbound, or southbound directions
These rules are especially relevant around downtown where drivers may be looking for parking, court access, or businesses.
Current signs should control.
Peru Alley Speed Limit
Peru's traffic code establishes a 10 mph maximum in all alleys within city limits.
That is materially lower than the 25 mph limits on several central streets.
Drivers using an alley for parking access or downtown circulation should reduce speed accordingly and watch for pedestrians, delivery activity, and vehicles backing from parking areas.
Parking Rules in Peru
Peru's current code prohibits parking in a way that leaves less than 10 feet of roadway available for traffic.
The City also has a substantial oversize-vehicle parking rule.
Oversize vehicles generally may not park on a City street or alley except for specified purposes such as deliveries, pickups, qualifying construction work, or limited camper/RV loading and unloading.
The code specifically includes examples such as:
Semi-tractors and trailers
Dump trucks
Car carriers
Buses
Livestock trailers
Agricultural equipment
Motor homes
Boat trailers
Utility trailers
This is a genuinely useful Peru-specific rule for commercial drivers, RV owners, and trailer users.
River Walkway Park and Pedestrian Traffic
Peru's River Walkway Park sits along the Wabash River and includes a paved fitness trail.
The City states that the trail runs approximately 1.7 miles one way from the Nickel Plate Trail to Broadway. River Walkway Park also includes playgrounds, pickleball courts, parking areas, and the Peru Skate Park nearby.
For motorists near Canal Street, Broadway, and River Walkway access points, this means watching for:
Walkers
Cyclists
Children
Park users
Vehicles entering parking areas
Motor Vehicles on the Riverfront Walkway
Peru's current municipal code separately regulates motor vehicles on the Riverfront Walkway, which lies along the north side of the Wabash River between the Wabash and Holman Street area.
Drivers should not assume that a paved recreational walkway is an ordinary vehicular street.
Nickel Plate Trail Connection
Peru's River Walkway provides an important local connection with the regional Nickel Plate Trail.
The City identifies the River Walkway fitness trail as extending from the Nickel Plate Trail to Broadway.
That gives Peru a stronger pedestrian and bicycle component than many smaller Miami County towns.
Maconaquah Park Vehicle Rules
Peru also has specific motor-vehicle rules inside Maconaquah Park.
The City's current code restricts motor vehicles, golf carts, snowmobiles, horse-drawn vehicles, and similar transportation to designated park drives, roadways, parking areas, and specifically authorized locations.
Drivers should use marked park roads and parking areas rather than treating recreational areas as open vehicular space.
Motorized Vehicles on Peru Streets
Peru's municipal code contains broader rules for certain motorized vehicles.
For vehicles not otherwise required to be plated under Indiana law, the current code establishes requirements involving:
Minimum operator age
Identification
Protective equipment for younger operators
Headlights
Taillights
Brake lights
Turn signals
Ability to travel at the posted road speed without creating a slow-moving hazard
The same provision prohibits pocket bikes on public roadways, rights-of-way, sidewalks, and parking lots.
Because the City's online code is current only through Ordinance 21-2025 and warns that later legislation may not yet appear, current signs and newer City ordinances should control if anything has changed.
Circus City Festival Traffic
Peru's annual Circus City Festival creates one of the city's most distinctive traffic changes.
The 2026 Circus City Festival ran July 13 through July 18, with the Circus Parade on July 18.
The parade route started at Main Street and Wayne Street, traveled west on Main Street, passed the courthouse, turned south onto Broadway, and ended at Broadway and Canal Street.
The 2026 event is now over, so those restrictions should not be described as currently active.
However, this is important recurring traffic information for future updates because Circus City Festival uses central downtown streets and produces significant pedestrian and event activity.
Circus Festival Street Closures
Peru Board of Works records associated with the festival document temporary closures affecting central streets including:
Broadway
Fifth Street
Court Street
Sixth Street
Those were event-specific closures.
They should not remain in evergreen copy as permanent restrictions.
Refresh this section each July with that year's official festival traffic plan.
Peru Police Department
Peru Police Department City Hall 35 S. Broadway Peru, IN 46970 Phone: 765-473-2150 Additional contact: 765-473-5522
The City's current Police Department page identifies Matt Feller as Chief of Police.
The Police Department also links directly to information for paying traffic tickets and obtaining crash reports.
Peru Street and Sanitation Department
Peru Street & Sanitation Department 351 E. Canal Street Peru, IN 46970 Phone: 765-472-2501
The Department is responsible for street resurfacing, repair and construction, snow removal, street sweeping, and alley maintenance.
Its current public notices do not establish a broad active Peru paving closure for August 21, 2026. The most recent prominently listed paving notices relate to 2025 work.
For that reason, this page should not invent a current 2026 City paving closure.
Peru BMV Branch + Kiosk
Miami County's current BMV location is:
Peru BMV Branch + Kiosk 300 S. Broadway Peru, IN 46970
Peru drivers do not need to visit the branch merely to complete ABetterDriver.com's online Driver Safety Program.
Peru Indiana Online Traffic School FAQ
Which court handles ordinary Peru traffic tickets?
Miami County's current rules assign traffic infractions to Miami Superior Court I.
Where is Miami Superior Court I?
25 N. Broadway, Room 300, Peru, Indiana 46970.
Can I pay a Peru traffic ticket online?
Miami County provides online payment options for qualifying traffic citations. The court's current minor-offense instructions also identify online and telephone payment methods.
Can I take Indiana online traffic school from Peru?
Yes. ABetterDriver.com currently offers a BMV-approved Indiana Driver Safety Program online.
How much is ABetterDriver.com's online DSP?
Currently $28.95.
How long is the Indiana Driver Safety Program?
At least four hours.
Can the online DSP provide the Indiana four-point credit?
Yes, subject to the BMV's current once-every-three-years rule.
Does completing the DSP dismiss my Peru traffic ticket?
No. The BMV Driver Safety Program and the court disposition are separate matters.
Does Miami County offer traffic-ticket deferral?
Yes. Miami County currently operates a Pretrial Deferral program.
How much is Miami County traffic-ticket deferral?
The current published fee is $192.50.
What happens after successful Miami County deferral?
The Prosecutor states that a qualifying ticket is dismissed when the participant successfully completes the program without another violation.
Can a CDL holder qualify?
No. The county currently lists CDL holders among the drivers who can be disqualified.
Can someone cited for more than 25 mph over qualify?
The current county rules list speeding more than 25 mph over the posted limit as a potential disqualifier.
Does Miami County deferral require ABetterDriver?
No. The published rules do not establish ABetterDriver's online DSP as a universal deferral requirement.
Do U.S. 24 and U.S. 31 intersect at Peru?
Yes. INDOT identifies the interchange at Peru.
Is U.S. 31 still part of a major statewide improvement program?
Yes. INDOT continues its program to make U.S. 31 between Indianapolis and South Bend a free-flow corridor.
Is future U.S. 31 paving planned near U.S. 24?
Yes. INDOT currently programs pavement work around the U.S. 24 interchange for fiscal year 2027.
What is the speed limit on North Broadway downtown?
The City's current schedule lists 25 mph from Main Street to Washington Avenue.
What is the speed limit in Peru alleys?
The City's current code establishes 10 mph.
Does Peru have one-way streets?
Yes. Court Street, Riverside Drive, Spring Street, and several downtown alleys have designated one-way sections.
Can I park a semi, RV, or large trailer on a Peru street?
Peru's current oversize-vehicle ordinance generally prohibits oversize vehicles from parking on streets and alleys except for listed exceptions such as deliveries, certain construction activity, emergencies, or limited RV loading and unloading.
Does the Nickel Plate Trail connect with Peru's River Walkway?
Yes. The City describes the River Walkway fitness trail as extending from the Nickel Plate Trail to Broadway.
Is there a BMV branch in Peru?
Yes. The Peru BMV Branch + Kiosk is at 300 S. Broadway.
Complete Your Indiana Online Driver Safety Program From Peru
ABetterDriver.com offers its Indiana BMV-approved online Driver Safety Program for $28.95.
If you are taking the course because of a BMV requirement or for the voluntary four-point credit, you can complete the approved program online from Peru.
If your goal is Miami County Pretrial Deferral or compliance with a Miami Superior Court I order, verify that separate requirement before enrolling.