The information on this
page pertains to traffic infractions only. For traffic matters
that include misdemeanor violations (driving under the influence, reckless
driving, driving on a suspended license and other vehicle violations
classified as misdemeanors please visit the
Criminal page.
TRAFFIC COURT LOCATIONS
Moreno Valley Court
13800 Heacock St. Bldg D #201
Moreno Valley, Ca. 92553
951.341.8876
Business Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
Southwest Justice Center
30755-D Auld Road
Murrieta, Ca. 92563
951.304.5000
Business Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
Banning Court
135 N. Alessandro Road
Banning, Ca. 92220
951.922.7140
Business Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
Hemet Court
880 N. State Street
Hemet, Ca. 92543
951.766.2310
Business Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
Temecula Court
41002 County Center Dr. #100
Temecula, Ca. 92591
951.600.6400
Business Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
Blythe Court
265 N. Broadway
Blythe, Ca. 92225
760.921.7982
Business Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
Indio Court
46-200 Oasis Street
Indio, Ca. 92201
760.775.0300
Business Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
PAY YOUR CITATION ONLINE
You may pay your traffic
ticket online through EPay-It.
Please be aware of the
following when you are entering your citation number on the next screen.
If you are entering the number from your
bail quote/courtesy notice
(paperwork
received in the mail from the Court) do not include the last two (2)
letters from the 'case number.' These are your initials added by the
Court to create your case number. Epay-It will not recognize these
additional letters.
If you are entering the
number from your citation
please enter it in full, including all numbers and
letters.
If you have already
pled guilty (in person or by mail) or you have already set up payment
arrangements, you may
NOT make payments nor pay for your ticket via
the internet. You may mail your payment to one of the
traffic court
locations in Riverside County:
Pay Your Traffic Ticket
PAY YOUR
CITATION BY PHONE
The implementation of the
IVR (Interactive Voice Response) System in the traffic module provides the public with the ability to
get the information they need quickly and easily without being frustrated
by busy signals or excessive "on-hold" time. The IVR System operates 24
hours a day, seven days a week and allows callers to get basic court
information by using the buttons on the keypad of their touch tone phone
to respond to digitally recorded instructions and voice prompts.
Individual citation information is available 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
(midnight) seven
days a week.
If you have already pled
guilty and have made payment arrangements and wish to make a partial
payment OR pay your fine in full, you may pay with Visa, Discover
or MasterCard.
Please have your citation number and credit card information available.
If you live in these
areas call:
Riverside............951.341.8876
Corona................951.270.5020
Blythe.................760.921.7828
Indio...................760.775.0300
Palm Springs.......760.320.9764
The call is answered on
the first ring. The caller is greeted with introductory messages in both
Spanish and English prompting the caller to select from informational and
instructional messages in the language of their choice. Callers then
select from a menu of specific topics.
- To obtain the bail
amount due on a traffic ticket
- For additional
information on paying a traffic citation
- Information on how to
clear a "Fix-it" ticket
- Information on how to
pay a traffic warrant or D.M.V. hold
- Information on traffic
school
- Information regarding
walk-in court
- Information concerning
Court Trials
After listening to the
informational message itself, the caller is offered the option of
repeating the message, speaking directly to a clerk, (during business
hours), or going back to the Main Menu to listen to other options.
Every message is always
played in its entirety, unlike tape-based systems that rely on "barge-in"
access. Since the messages themselves are recorded in digital format,
there is no hiss, or break-down in the quality of the sound, no matter how
many times the messages have been played. Those callers who need to write
down the information they're hearing can utilize jump-back, jump-forward
and message repeat function.
The IVR system is
connected to the Court's Citation Management System to retrieve
information related to the case, and "speak" it back to the caller. When
callers choose the option for information on their traffic citation, they
are asked to enter their citation number. The system will repeat the
citation number entered and ask if it is correct. If correct, it will
access the information and spell the last name on that citation to be
certain it is the correct citation. If the citation number is entered
incorrectly it lets the caller re-enter the citation number. The system
then tells the caller the date the citation is due, or if it is past due,
it gives them the options of paying the citation by credit card, signing
up for traffic school (if the citation is eligible for T/S), getting a 30
day extension (as long as there is not a hold or warrant on the citation),
or posting bail to set for a court trial.
When processing traffic
citations, qualified callers (i.e., those who do not have outstanding
warrants, personal appearance required, proof of correction violations,
etc.) will automatically be offered the option of paying their fine, or
forfeiting the bail for their citation by credit card after they hear the
amount due.
When the caller selects
the payment option, the system quickly guides them through the necessary
data entry. Through this feature, the system then dials out to the credit
card processor to validate and post the transaction while the caller is
on-line. When the payment processing is successfully completed, the
IVR System clears the citation by updating the appropriate data base. When
the validation, posting and updating are completed, the system verbally
issues the caller a unique confirmation number, which also acts as an
internal reference number for tracking purposes. The caller is also
advised if this payment procedure cannot be completed for any reason.
CONTESTING A CITATION
To contest your citation,
you must enter a plea of not guilty, and submit the full bail amount.
You may request a hearing by court trial or written trial by declaration at
the clerk's office or through the mail on any infraction that does not
require a mandatory appearance.
Mail your request to the
court listed at the bottom of the citation. Include:
- Written request for a
court trial or written trial by declaration.
- Full bail amount as
indicated on your courtesy notice.
Court Trial:
When
you plead not guilty to an infraction, the matter will be set for a
court trial.
If you elect to transfer your trial to the County Seat as provided in
California Vehicle Code Section 40502(2), your trial will be scheduled
at the Moreno Valley Courthouse (California Government Code Section
24256). The officer who issued the citation will be subpoenaed to
appear, and the prosecutor may subpoena other witnesses to appear and
testify. You have the right to subpoena witnesses and to have a lawyer
present.
The
examination of facts and law will be presided by a judge (or other
magistrate such as a commissioner or judge pro tem). At the trial, the
officer(s) will present any factual evidence. At this time, you must
also be prepared to produce all evidence, documents, or witnesses to
support your case.
If
you are found guilty, your bail will be applied to your fine. If you
are found not guilty, your bail will be returned to you.
Request for continuance
of a traffic court trial:
Requests for continuance
of a court trial should be filed at least 10 days prior to the Court
Trial hearing date. The request will be submitted to the judicial
officer for approval. You will be notified by mail, or you may contact
the court for status of the request. If you submit your request
untimely, it will not be submitted to the Judicial Officer for
consideration until the day of your currently scheduled court trial
hearing.
To
request a continuance, complete the court form
Request For Continuance of Traffic Court Trial.
Questions About Court Trials:
-
How long will the trial take?
You should plan to be at court for three hours or more on the day of
trial. Remember to check your trial date, department and time.
-
Should I
bring my evidence?
If you have
photos, diagrams, reports, or any other exhibits, which you plan to
present at the time of the trial, bring them with you on your trial
date.
If
you have witnesses that are necessary to your defense, you should have
them subpoenaed to appear in court. You can obtain the subpoena form
from the Clerk's Office. Do this well in advance of your trial date.
Complete the subpoena form, have the subpoena served, and file the
subpoena with the proof of service with the Court on or before your
trial date.
Report directly to the Department that your trial has been scheduled in.
The bailiff or clerk will give some preliminary instructions and then
check in those people appearing in court.
A Judge or Court
Commissioner, who pursuant, to Government Code Section 72190, has been
empowered to rule on infraction matters, will then hear the cases. The
Court will listen to the statements of the sworn witnesses against you
and may question each witness. You may then present your case to the
Court, and the Court will rule on the matter or take the matter under
submission. If the Court takes the matter under submission you will be
notified by mail of the court's ruling and if found guilty the sentence
will be imposed.
- What if I am found
not guilty?
If you are found not guilty, your bail deposit will be returned to the
depositor by mail within sixty days.
- What if I do not
appear at the time of trial?
Your trial can be heard in absentia. Your bail will be forfeited, or a
warrant may be issued for your arrest. If your bail is forfeited your
driving record will show a conviction. If no bail has been posted a
warrant for your arrest may be issued.
The officer will be subpoenaed to appear in court.
Trial by Written
Declaration
A
person may proceed with a trial through written declarations submitted
by the law enforcement officer who issued the citation and the recipient
of the citation. A trial by written declaration does not require a
court appearance by either party. The judge will enter a judgment based
on written testimony and documentary evidence presented.
If you
request a written trial by declaration, you must waive your rights to
appear, to testify in person, and to subpoena witnesses. The
California Judicial Council provides instructions and a form (which is
mandatory) for defendants to contest a citation in writing.
Instructions to Defendant
Request for Trial by Written Declaration
Contesting a Judicial
Decision
An appeal can be filed
within 30 days only after being found guilty in a court trial. New
evidence is not accepted on appeal. The appellate court's decision
deals with the evidence offered and decisions made at the time of trial.
For more information visit
the Appeals page.
EXTENSIONS
The clerk's office may
give one 60-day extension. There are currently two methods for
requesting an extension:
For extensions beyond 60
days you must appear in court and speak with the judge or commissioner in
open court.
MANDATORY APPEARANCE
If your case requires a
mandatory appearance, you cannot pay your fine without first appearing in
court for arraignment. You can appear on or before your
appearance date at any of the listed court locations. (Click here
for court locations).
If you elect to appear at the County Seat, as provided in California
Vehicle Code Section 40502(b), you must appear at the Moreno Valley
Courthouse (California Government Code Section 24256). Your courtesy notice will indicate
MANDATORY court appearance.
The following infraction
charges require a mandatory appearance.
- 22348(b) VC - Speed
greater than 100 mph
- 23140(a) VC - Person
under 21 years old driving with Blood Alcohol Content of .05 or more
- 12280(b) VC -
Possession of assault weapon (as infraction)
If your case requires a
mandatory appearance, you cannot pay your fine without first appearing in
court for arraignment.
PROOF OF CORRECTIONS
Obtaining Proof of Correction
If
there are mechanical, registration, license or insurance violations (VC
16028a only), your bail will reduce if you provide proof of correction on
or before the due date. If you do not provide proof of correction, you
will be required to pay the full
bail. Proof received after
the fine is paid will not be eligible for further reductions.
The inspecting officer
will sign off the violation you were cited for on the back of the citation
or on the courtesy notice. The sign off must be for a correction eligible
violation and include the violation you were cited for, the officer’s
name, agency and badge number.
Proof of correction may be
obtained in the following ways:
- Smog control device
violations must be inspected and certified by an authorized Motor
Vehicle Pollution Control Device Installation and Inspection Station.
- Light and brake
violations may be certified by an authorized Inspection and Installation
Sation or Law Enforcement Agency.
- Dog and cat license or
vaccination must be submitted in court if requesting a dismissal or
reduction in the fine. Proof of correction will not be
accepted at the clerk's office.
- Other defects or proof
of corrections may be obtained at any law enforcement office during
regular business hours. DO NOT STOP AN OFFICER ON ANY ROADWAY FOR
THIS CERTIFICATION.
- Self-certification of
corrections is not acceptable.
- Sale of the vehicle
does not relieve you of the responsibility for correction of the
violations.
Fraudulent or altered
documentation may be referred to the Office of the District Attorney for a
full investigation and possible criminal prosecution.
Vehicle Registration
If you were cited for a
Registration Violation (Vehicle Code section 4000(a)1, you may obtain
proof of valid registration from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The Department of Motor Vehicles may sign off the back of your ticket or
courtesy notice or you may show proof of a 'Validated Registration.'
The clerk will not accept proof of registration that indicates 'Report of
Deposit of Fees.' You may submit proof with a $10.00 correction fee.
Payment must be made in full if proof is not shown.
Insurance Violations
The
following information applies to the 16028a VC only (No proof of financial
responsibility or no proof of insurance). This does not apply to 16028c
(No proof of insurance involving a collision) or any other related
insurance violations.
If you
were cited for failure to provide proof of financial responsibility
(insurance), and you did not have insurance on the date of violation you
will be required to pay the full bail. However, if you obtain proof of
insurance after the date of violation, the court will reduce your bail.
If you
had proof of insurance at the time the citation was issued, but were
unable to provide proof to the officer who cited you, the violation is
dismissible with a $10.00 correction fee.
You may
submit proof, as outlined below, with your payment or submit a copy of
your insurance policy to the clerk of the court.
-
Name
of insurance carrier
-
Policy
number
-
Effective dates of coverage showing insurance coverage at the time you
were cited
-
Name
of person who received the citation and/or the vehicle listed on the
citation
If the
proof does not show all of the information, the total bail amount must be
paid.
Fraudulent or altered documentation may be referred to the Office of the
District Attorney for a full investigation and possible criminal
prosecution.
JUVENILE TRAFFIC
CITATIONS
The traffic division
processes juvenile cases involving only infractions.
You may pay a traffic infraction by
telephone,
online, or in person
unless the citation indicates it is a mandatory appearance. If a
mandatory appearance is required minors must be accompanied by a parent or
legal guardian.
All other cases, including non-traffic misdemeanor charges are processed
at Juvenile Court.
PARKING CITATIONS
Parking citations are no
longer handled by the Superior Court. Each issuing city or agency
now processes its own parking citations. Contact the city or agency
that issued the parking citation for information.
The court conducts
hearings on appeal of you contest an administrative decision of the
parking agency.
Contesting a Parking
Citation
The
court retains jurisdiction over the parking appeal process only. The
following criteria must be met before submitting an appeal on a parking
citation:
-
A
request for administrative review must be submitted to the parking
agency
-
A
decision by the administrative review must be complete
-
The contestant has 30 days from the 30 days of the Examiner's final
decision (Vehicle
Code 40230(a). If notice of the final decision was
mailed to the contestant, an additional 5 days for mailing is added
pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure 1013.
You
must submit the following information to the court in order to file an
appeal:
-
Notice of Appeal - Parking Violations
-
The contestant's copy of the original Notice of Parking Violation
-
A
$25.00 filing fee (Vehicle Code 40230(b) made payable to the 'clerk of
the court'.
Upon
filing the Notice of Appeal, the matter will be set for Trial de Novo.
The date, day, and time of the trial will be inserted on the Notice of
Appeal. The contestant must serve the Processing or the issuing Agency
(Thereafter “Agency”) with the Notice of Appeal (Vehicle. Code 40230(a),
and a proof of service – parking violations must be filed by the
contestant with the court at least 10 days before the trial date. Upon
receiving the Notice of appeal the agency will forward to the court its
entire file, including the Final Decision of the Examiner and the manner
and the date of service of that Decision. The agency file should be
received by the Court at least 10 days before trial.
After the Trial De Novo, the court will notify the Contestant and the
Agency of its Decision. If the agency prevails, the parking penalty
will then be retained by the Agency or if not previously collected by
the agency, will be collected by the agency (Vehicle. Code Section
40230(3). If the contestant prevails, the Agency shall promptly refund
to the Contestant the $25.00 fee for filing the Notice of Appeal,
together with any parking penalty previously deposited. (Vehicle. Code
Section 40230(b).
Note: If the contestant’s check is returned to the court uncollected,
the court will automatically dismiss the appeal and a $30.00 check
return fee will be assessed.
PAYING YOUR FINE
Paying the Bail Amount
The
bail on a citation is the amount of money required to guarantee your
appearance in Court. If you choose to pay the bail on the citation
without going to trial, it is a bail forfeiture. The citation is deemed
paid, and the resulting violation will be reported to DMV if the
violation is reportable.
Payment Due Date
Your
citation or courtesy notice will provide you with a date and time to
appear and/or pay your fine. If you are unsure of the due date, you
may search the court records online
or you may appear in person at any
court location within 30-60 days of
the date of your citation.
Methods for Paying a Citation
You may
use the following methods to pay your traffic citation:
-
Automated phone system:
Visa, Discover or MasterCard.
-
Internet - Epay-It
: Visa, Discover or MasterCard
-
By
mail - check, money order, or credit card. Make checks payable to
the 'Clerk of the Court.' Write your citation number on the check
or money order. If paying by Visa, Discover or MasterCard complete
the form on the back of your courtesy notice.
Payments can be mailed to:
|
Riverside and Outlying Areas: |
Desert
Area: |
Payment
Processing Center
P.O. Box 431
Riverside, Ca. 92501 |
Payment
Processing Center
255 N. Cielo, Ste. 140-293
Palm Springs, Ca. 92264 |
DELINQUENT FINES
License Suspension
If you fail to appear or fail to pay
a fine as ordered, a warrant will be issued or a DMV hold on your driver’s
license or a DMV hold will be placed on your driver’s license and/or
vehicle registration. You may also be subject to civil penalties, which
include wage garnishment and/or tax interception, and an additional
penalty of either $188.00 or $300.00, depending on the violation added.
A warrant or hold may be issued
pursuant to the following codes:
- Vehicle Code Section
40508(a) warrant or hold for failure to appear on a citation.
- Vehicle Code Section
40508(b) warrant or hold for failure to pay the fine.
- Penal Code Section
853.7 for failure to appear on the citation or written promise to
appear.
- Bench warrant for
failure to comply with an order of the Court.
- Penal Code 1214.1 Civil
Assessment for failure to appear or failure to pay
Warrants
A warrant is a court order
for an arrest. As long as a warrant remains outstanding, the
individual named on the warrant is subject to arrest.
Once the bail on the
warrant is posted, the court will recall the warrant. Upon posting
of full bail, the court may set a date and time for a court appearance.
Failure to appear at the court appearance may result in the forfeiture of
the bail with no further proceedings or the court may forfeit the bail and
issue a new warrant or place a DMV hold on your license or registration.
Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV) Abstract
When a traffic citation is
cleared, the court notifies DMV within 10 days to remove the hold from
your license.
Note: Abstract Release
will not be issued on a failure to pay a fine until the fine is paid in
full.
TRAFFIC SCHOOL
Eligibility
You may
choose to attend Traffic School for certain vehicle violations. To be
eligible for the Traffic School program, you must meet the following
conditions:
-
You
had a valid driver’s license at the time you were cited.
-
You
are not currently attending, and have not attended, a traffic school
program for a citation issued within the last 18 months of the date of
this current citation.
-
Your
citation must be a moving violation and does not have a misdemeanor
charge that requires a mandatory appearance in court.
-
Your
citation does not involve alcohol or drugs.
-
Your
citation is not for Vehicle Code sections 22406.5 or 21655.5
-
Your
citation does not have a point count of more than one point under
Vehicle Code section 12810 or more than one and one-half points under
Vehicle Code Section 12810 or.5 (b)(2).
-
If
your case involves a failure to appear warrant or civil assessment, the
failure to appear charge must be adjudicated or paid in full before you
can attend traffic violator school.
-
Speed may not exceed 25 mph
over the speed limit.
If you
satisfy the above requirements and wish to attend traffic school, you will
be required to pay a fee in the sum of $29.00, plus the amount of bail
indicated on your courtesy notice, payable to "Clerk of the Court -
Riverside County". There will be a separate fee at the class you attend.
Upon completion of school, and upon the court receiving proof of such
completion in a timely manner, your case will be dismissed.
If you
do not satisfy the above requirements, the clerk cannot grant
traffic school and you must make your request to a judicial officer. If
you are allowed to attend traffic school more than once in an 18-month
period, the dismissal will still appear on your driving record. If you
fail to provide proof of completion as required, a conviction will
reported to the DMV and your insurance may be adversely affected.
WARNING: If you are not eligible to attend, but do so anyway, the
conviction will be reported on your driving record and there will be no
refund of any fees paid.
Requesting Traffic School
Mail a
check or money order to either of the following:
|
Payment Processing Center
P.O. Box 8319
Moreno Valley, Ca. 92553 |
Palm Springs Superior
Court
Payment Processing Center
255 N. El Cielo Ste. 140-293
Palm Springs, Ca. 92262 |
You have
the option of attending a DMV approved eight hour traffic school program
or you can attend a home study or 'online' traffic school. You must
attend a traffic school from one of the lists below.
Approved Traffic
Schools Recognized by DMV
Additional Riverside County Approved Traffic Schools/Home Studies
You can also request
traffic school by telephone.
You must have your citation number and credit card available.
If you sign up by phone or
through the mail, a list of traffic schools will be mailed to you or you
may use the lists above.
Failure to Complete
Traffic School
Failure to complete
traffic school by the due date will result in a forfeiture of your fees
and a conviction will be reported to the DMV. There will be no
further proceedings in the case.
NIGHT COURT INFORMATION
The Superior Court of
California, County of Riverside offers night court as a service and
convenience to our public at the following locations. You may bring your
traffic infractions and small claim matters to be heard at night court.
|
COURT |
NIGHT COURT |
|
Blythe
265 N Broadway
Blythe, CA 92225
760.921.7828 |
3rd
Wednesday of the month
Traffic infractions only.
Check in
at 3:30 PM |
|
Indio
46200 Oasis
Indio, Ca. 92201
760.775.0300 |
1st
Tuesday of the month
Check in until 5:00 PM |
|
Moreno
Valley
13800 Heacock St. Bldg D #201
Moreno Valley, Ca. 92553
951.341.8876 |
3rd Wednesday of the
month
Check in until 5:45 PM |
Pursuant to Section 42006
of the Vehicle Code, in addition to the Penalty Assessment, one dollar
($1) is collected for a violation of any section of the Vehicle Code or
any local ordinance adopted pursuant to the Vehicle Code. Violations
related to parking are not included. This assessment is used to fund night
court operations.
HOW TO REQUEST COPIES
Request for copies may be made in person in the Traffic Division at
the court where the case is filed.
The fee for copies is $.50 per page. If certification is
requested, an additional $15.00 per document will be assessed.
Please provide the following information:
- Defendant's name
- Case number
- Date of birth (if known)
- Specific documents requested
To request copies by mail, submit a check payable to the 'Clerk of the
Court.' DO NOT SEND CASH. If the total amount is
unknown, indicate under the amount line 'not to exceed $25.00.' The
correct amount will be filled in and a receipt will be forwarded, along
with the requested copies. All checks must be preprinted with makers
name and address. Copy orders are filled within 7 -10 working days.
Please include a self addressed, stamped envelope large enough to
accommodate the request.
FORMS/FEES
MORE INFORMATION
Other Helpful Websites:
About Red Light Camera
Citations
Red light camera citations
are issued to the registered owner of the vehicle that is on file with the
Department of Motor Vehicles. The citations are issued by the law
enforcement agencies and are mailed to you.
The law enforcement agency
will assign your court date at the time the citation is issued. When
the court receives their copy, they will mail a courtesy notice to the
address listed on the citation. If you do not receive a notice in
the mail, you must appear or pay the fine by the date listed on the bottom
of your citation. If you were not the driver, follow the directions
located on the back of the citation. You do not need to anything
further. However, if you wish to inquire on the status of the
citation, you may check by searching the
court records.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What proof can I
submit for willful failure to appear?
Proof can include but is
not limited to the following:
- Military duty orders
- Jail incarceration
(Sheriff's booking or jail release papers)
- Medical
incapacitation (medical excuse from a doctor or hospital)
- If I have failed to
pay my fine, what are the alternatives to take care of my case?
A warrant may be issued,
a civil assessment with an additional amount added to your fine and/or a
DMV hold may be placed on your DMV record. You must pay the fine
plus the additional fees in order for the DMV hold to be lifted.
- Are there any
alternatives to making fine payments?
Yes. You may request
community service through alternative sentencing. There will be a
fee of $80.00 payable to the alternative sentencing program.
- Can I get insurance
if I don't own a car?
You
are eligible for insurance if you are a licensed driver. Contact an
insurance agent to determine what type of insurance coverage is
available.
-
How long is an out-of-state driver’s
license effective and does it matter if I am a student or in the
military?
An
out-of-state driver's license is valid until expiration or until you
become a resident of California. Evidence of California residency
includes the following:
- Employment in the
state
- A California address
where you are registered to vote
- A California
homeowner's tax exemption filing
- Resident tuition
payment at a California college or university
- Can I appear in
court for a relative?
You
can provide the court with documentation, which informs the court as to
why an appearance cannot be made. The court has discretion whether or
not to accept the excuse and set a new date.
- I got a ticket that
really belongs to someone else. How do I clear it?
If
you believe that you have received a citation or notice from the court
in error because someone else used your name or other identification,
you should personally go to the court with your photo identification and
request to appear in court. Click here for
court days and times.
- Can I get a license
in another state if my license is suspended in California and I move out
of state?
California and all other states participate in the” problem driver
pointer system” (PDPS). When you apply for a driver’s license in another
state, the system alerts them to any action against your driver’s
license in other states. It is up to the state where you have applied to
issue you one of its licenses. They may not issue you a license until
the action is cleared. You must contact other states for specific rules
pertaining to that state.
The
court will mail a courtesy notice to you at the address shown on your
ticket. The notice will contain court date information. If the address
on your ticket is incorrect, or you don’t receive a courtesy notice, you
are still responsible for contacting the court by the due date.
-
Why is there a $10 proof of correction
fee when the officer said there would be no fee?
The
$10 proof of correction fee is statutory (Vehicle Code section 40611)
for all correctable violations.
- Am I responsible for
an equipment violation on a car I am driving that is not mine?
Yes, unless the ticket
is issued in the name of the registered owner of the vehicle you are
driving.
- What if I have sold
the car that was cited for an equipment violation or it is inoperable?
If
you have sold the car or it has become inoperable, you must set a court
date to appear and provide proof of sale or inoperability to clear the
ticket. You should support your case with any relevant paperwork.
- What time will I be
on calendar for my traffic ticket?
Traffic citations are not automatically on the court's calendar. You
must report to the clerk's office on or before your appearance date, and
no later than the designated time to
have your case placed on calendar that same day. (Click here for
court locations)
- What if I disagree
with the ticket the officer wrote, what can I do?
You have two options
available to you, if the citation is an infraction that does not require
a mandatory court appearance:
- You can post the bail
amount and request a trial by declaration. The trial by
declaration is a method of contesting your case without making a court
appearance. You and the officer will submit a written statement
of the facts of the case. A judge or commissioner will review
the declarations and make a decision on the case.
Instructions to Defendant
Request for Trial by Written Declaration
- You can request a
court trial by mail or in person. The clerk's office must
receive a written statement that you wish to plead not guilty.
You will be required to post the total amount of bail owed on your
case if you are requesting a court trial by mail.
- By completing
traffic school, will the ticket be taken off my driving record?
No, the violation
remains on your driving record for the Department of Motor Vehicles and
the courts review. However, the DMV will suppress this information
from your insurance company.
- Can I make payments
on my ticket?
Yes.
You must enter a plea of guilty and the clerk's office will refer you to
the financial services division to make payment arrangements. You will
be assessed a $35.00 administrative fee for this service. You will be
required to sign a contract agreeing to the payment schedule. This is
the same arrangement that will be received by an individual who is
placed on calendar to request payments. The clerk's office will be able
to quickly process your case for payments without the need to spend the
entire morning or afternoon in court to achieve the same result.
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