Personal delivery [from an officer or authorized server]
Certified mail
Publication (can ONLY be used when there is no known address for the person in question)
Receiving a ticket in the mail just as you would a piece of junk mail is NOT legal service, it's bait.
Exactly. Often it will have instructions NOT to contact the court, but to contact your local police.
The police cannot file the charge with the court until they can show proof of service. Your acknowledging receipt to a cop will do, so don't take the bait.