Proof can include but is not limited to the following:

• Militiary duty orders
• Jail incarceration (Sheriff's booking or jail release papers)
• Medical incapacitation (medical excuse from doctor or hospital)

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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.

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Yes. You may request community service through alternative sentencing. There will be a fee of $90.00 payable to the alternative sentencing program.

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You are eligible for insurance if you are a licensed driver. Contact an insurance agent to determine what type of insurance coverage is available.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The $25 fee for each correctable violation is statutory (Vehicle Code section 40611) for all correctable violations.

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Yes, unless the ticket is issued in the name of the registered owner of the vehicle you are driving.

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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.

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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.

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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 fine 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.
• 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.

For more information regarding requesting a court trial or written trial by declaration, click here.

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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.

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Yes. You must enter a plea of guilty and the clerk's office will refer you to the Enhanced Collections 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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For those you wish to make an appearance in the courtroom, the appearance must be made at the court location where you were cited to appear. Click here for court addresses and traffic court days and hours.

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The following transactions can be completed at any courthouse that hears infractions/traffic cases:

• Making payments;
• Signing up for traffic school;
• Setting up payment arrangements;
• Submitting a traffic school completion
• Submitting other program completions;
• Obtaining extensions for date to appear, traffic school, or payments;
• Posting bail so that a court trial can be scheduled.

Many of the above transactions may be processed online or by phone at 951.222.0384.

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Yes. You may submit your traffic filings via fax to any traffic court location. There is a fee of $1.50 per page. For more information on how to fax file your documents, click here.

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