What are California Traffic Court Records?

California traffic court records are official documents relating to the judicial proceedings of the Traffic Divisions of California Superior Courts. These documents encompass traffic citations issued by law enforcement officers and typically generated before, during, and at the conclusion of cases in the state's Traffic Courts.

Getting a Traffic Ticket in California

When issuing a citation to an offending motorist, a California law enforcement officer will typically ask the vehicle operator for their driver's license, car registration, and proof of insurance. Depending on the offense and the prevailing conditions, the officer may also ask the motorist to step out of the vehicle before writing a ticket. The ticket or "Notice to Appear" is a form that lists the infractions and/or misdemeanors prompting the citation. In severe cases, such as felony overspeeding in California, the citation may reflect criminal charges rather than simple infractions.

The officer will then ask the ticketed motorists to sign the form. This is generally done to ensure the alleged offender appears in Traffic Court. It is not considered an admission of guilt or impedes the motorist's right to contest. In California, law enforcement officers are authorized to arrest a ticketed motorist who refuses to sign their citation.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often simplify the search process by aggregating information across multiple judicial districts. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties may be required to provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state where a person resides or was accused.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources and are not sponsored by these agencies. Consequently, the accuracy and validity of their information may not be guaranteed.

How Do I Look Up My Traffic Tickets in California?

In California, the Traffic Division of the Superior Court handles traffic tickets. To look up a traffic ticket, visit the website of the Superior Court of California in the county where the ticket was issued. Use the Find Your Court page to find the contact information of all the county Superior Courts in California. The webpage also provides direct links to the traffic sections of their websites.

On the site, users may navigate to the traffic page of the county court website they need and use its search tools to look up traffic tickets. Note that it may take up to 30 days for citations to transfer between law enforcement agencies and courts. Most county court websites allow the public to search by citation/ticket number, driver's license, and case number when accessing information about traffic tickets online.

Types of Traffic Tickets Issued in California

Law enforcement officers generally issue traffic tickets for these three types of California traffic violations and infractions:

• Parking violations
• Traffic infractions
• Traffic misdemeanors

In California, parking tickets are not filed with the court, and individuals with parking tickets do not have to appear in Traffic Court unless they find the ticket resolution unacceptable. A California parking ticket shows the traffic fine, payable to the parking agency where the violation occurred. This amount typically increases the longer you wait to pay the ticket. Failure to pay a parking ticket may lead to restriction in vehicle registration renewal. To contest this ticket, contact the parking agency. If unsatisfied with the agency's decision, you may query or petition the Traffic Court.

Traffic infractions include:

• Speeding.
• Running a red light.
• Driving with an expired license.
• Driving a vehicle with broken equipment.

The citation for such offenses generally includes a notice to appear in court. You may pay the ticket to avoid going to court. However, the owner of a vehicle may also get a traffic ticket in California, even when someone else is operating their vehicle. Such "owner responsibility" tickets are for correctable violations such as broken turn signals. California also issues photo citations. These are photos taken by street cameras of traffic infractions committed at red lights and railroad crossings. Owner responsibility and photo citations are mailed to culpable individuals.

Traffic misdemeanor tickets usually cover more serious traffic crimes like reckless driving, driving without a license, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI). Some misdemeanors and felonies, such as DUIs and vehicular manslaughter, are grounds for arrest and may be tried in Criminal Court and punished by considerable jail time.

Can You Get a Traffic Ticket Riding an Electric Scooter in California?

Yes. The increasing popularity of dockless electric scooters in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Monica, and other California cities is prompting state legislators to review existing traffic laws regarding motorized scooters. Law enforcement agencies also report sharp increases in the number of tickets issued to riders of motorized scooters.

While California legislators debate the finer points of a Motorized Scooter bill introduced in February 2018, these vehicles are currently legal in the state. Current laws provide certain scooter restrictions in California. To operate an electric scooter legally in the state, riders:

• Must have a valid driver's license or a learner's permit
• Must wear a US Department of Transport (DOT)-compliant helmet
• Must not be a passenger on the scooter or take on a passenger
• Must not ride the scooter faster than 15 mph
• Must not ride the scooter on a road with a speed limit over 25 mph unless it has a bike lane to ride the scooter
• Must not ride the scooter at night unless it has appropriate lighting equipment, including a headlight visible from the front and sides, and reflectors
• Must not ride or park the scooter on the sidewalk

Riding on sidewalks accounts for more than half of California's tickets issued for electric scooter riders.

What to Do When You Get a Traffic Ticket in California?

There are four ways individuals may respond to being issued a California traffic ticket, including:

• Paying the fine
• Requesting an extension
• Opting for traffic school
• Contesting the ticket in court

While paying a traffic ticket is considered an admission of guilt for the violation on the form, it is an option for motorists seeking to resolve a ticket without contesting it in court. However, depending on their previous driving record, this may lead to suspending their driving license. It may also impact auto insurance rates.

Persons who are unable to pay their traffic tickets may request an extension. An extension is usually only possible if requested before the traffic ticket due date. The court may also grant an extension on the traffic ticket payment plan, court date, and traffic school completion date.

Attending a traffic school may be helpful for keeping a traffic ticket off your DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) record. However, this option is only available to eligible persons. To be eligible for traffic school in California, the motorist may be required to:

• Have a citation for a moving violation
• Not have a DUI violation
• Not have a violation that qualifies for more than one point with the DMV
• Not be driving a commercial vehicle or transporting hazardous materials
• Not have attended a traffic school for a prior violation within the last 18 months
• Not have exceeded 25 mph over the speed limit if you have a speeding citation

Note that attending a traffic school also means you are paying for the ticket. The cost of the traffic school includes the amount on your ticket.

Motorists are advised to seek professional legal counsel before opting for any of the aforementioned options, as the circumstances surrounding most tickets or traffic offenses are unique.

Contesting a Traffic Ticket in California

California provides two options for contesting a traffic ticket in court. The motorist may:

• Request an arraignment and get a hearing date
• Request a trial by written declaration; this allows them to challenge your citation in writing. However, they are usually required to pay a bail deposit to proceed with a trial by written declaration.

The bail amount may be refunded depending on the circumstances if the Traffic Court deems you not guilty. If the court finds you guilty, the total amount for the traffic ticket, other penalties, and fees will be taken from the bail amount, and the balance refunded. If the bail deposit does not cover this total, the court will give you a due date to pay the balance. To be eligible for trial by written declaration, you should:

• Have a traffic ticket for an infraction violation
• Have a ticket that is not past its due date
• Not having a DUI ticket or a violation requiring a mandatory court appearance.

Generally, motorists who receive a traffic ticket are advised to seek professional legal counsel. Several nuances apply to the resolution of traffic tickets or offenses.

How Do I Pay a Traffic Ticket in California?

The Traffic Divisions of California Superior Courts provide multiple ways to pay traffic tickets. The most common methods are:

• Online
• In-person
• By phone
• By mail

To pay online, look for the link to the online payment portal on the same website where you looked up your traffic ticket. Some counties also allow installment payments online for those who qualify for payment plans. Credit/debit cards are accepted for online payments. Paying online usually attracts an additional processing/convenience fee.

When paying for a traffic ticket in person, visit any of the locations of the Traffic Division of the Superior Court in that county. Where payment by phone is available, you may find the number to call on the county's Traffic Court website. Credit/debit cards are used for phone payments. The phone payment option is convenient and usually available at all times.

The Traffic Court/Division webpage on a California Superior Court website may also contain a mailing address where you may send your traffic ticket payment. This is usually the mailing address of the payment processor or court accounts department. Most counties only accept checks and money orders for paying for tickets by mail, while a few also accept credit card authorization forms.

How Do You Get a Traffic Ticket Extension?

California allows ticketed motorists to request to extend their:

• Court arraignment dates
• Traffic school completion dates
• Payment plans for ticket fines/bail forfeiture

Acceptable ways of applying for these extensions and extension terms vary from county to county. The court clerk may grant extensions for non-delinquent individuals charged with traffic infractions in most California counties. Requests for extensions from non-qualifying individuals and violations may be presented to a Traffic Court judge.

To apply for a traffic ticket extension, visit or call the court clerk's office. Some California counties also accept requests online and by phone. Check the Traffic Court section of a county's Superior Court website to find contact details for the court clerk.

Contesting a California Traffic Ticket

You may contest a ticket in Traffic Court only if you believe you have not committed a traffic violation and/or prove you were wrongly issued a ticket. While you do not have to hire an attorney for a Traffic Court case, having one may help you understand the state's traffic laws and save you time and money during the trial.

To fight a traffic ticket, first appear in Traffic Court and plead not guilty to the court clerk or reserve a date to see the judge. Some counties also allow motorists to write the court to plead not guilty. You may also elect for trial by written declaration by providing the court with a written statement rather than appearing in person. You may submit a request form before electing for trial by written declaration. One benefit of this option is that you may seek a new trial (now, in person) if you lose a trial by written declaration.

All of these options require that you post the bail amount on your Courtesy Violation Information Notice (a document mailed to your address 2—3 weeks after getting a ticket).

California Driving Record Check

Driving records in the State of California are maintained by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and may be obtained online or by mail. Individuals seeking to review their records may access the DMV's secure online portal, which provides an uncertified copy of the driving record upon payment of a $2 fee. Records obtained online may be printed immediately, as they are available for one-time viewing only. Certified copies, which carry full evidentiary value, cannot be obtained online and may be requested by mail instead. To do so, an applicant will be required to complete Form INF 1125, submit the form with the required $5 fee, and forward it to the address indicated by the DMV. Driving records issued by the DMV contain information such as convictions reported within the applicable statutory period, license suspensions or revocations, departmental actions, and accident involvement, all in accordance with California Vehicle Code § 1808.

Obtaining Another Person's Driving Record

Access to another individual's driving record in California is strictly regulated. Such records may only be released upon submission of Form INF 70 ("Request for Record Information") and payment of the applicable fee, which is $5 per record if requested by mail or $2 if processed online through the DMV's system. The request must be accompanied by a statement establishing a permissible purpose for disclosure under state and federal law. California privacy statutes define acceptable purposes and include use by government agencies, courts, law enforcement authorities, insurance companies for underwriting or claims purposes, attorneys engaged in legal proceedings, and certain employers conducting background checks for safety-sensitive positions. In cases where no statutory exception applies, the driver's written and signed consent is required before the record may be disclosed. Any unauthorized release or misuse of another person's driving record may subject the requester to civil liability and criminal penalties under federal and state law.

Free DMV Driving Records in California

The California Department of Motor Vehicles does not provide driving records free of charge to individual applicants. All requests, whether submitted online or by mail, are subject to the applicable fee schedule established by the DMV. The only exception available to drivers at the national level is the National Driver Register (NDR). This federal database contains information regarding drivers whose licenses have been suspended or revoked or convicted of serious traffic offenses in any state. Individuals may request their own NDR record at no cost by submitting a notarized Privacy Act request to the National Driver Register in Washington, D.C. It should be noted, however, that the NDR record does not constitute a full driving history; it merely indicates whether any state has reported a driver for license withdrawal or serious violation.

What To Expect in Traffic Court in California?

Your first appearance in Traffic Court will be an arraignment. The law enforcement officer who issued the citation will not be present at this session. However, they will be subpoenaed to appear during the hearing. The judge will read the charges at the arraignment, tell you your rights, and ask for your plea. You may plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest. The judge will then set a date for the next hearing.

California does not hold jury trials for traffic infractions. You also have the right to request discovery before the commencement of the trial. Discovery will give you access to the notes of the law enforcement officers who issued the ticket and other documentation that may be helpful to your case.

During the trial, the officer will state the reasons for giving you the ticket. The prosecutor may also subpoena other witnesses to appear and testify. You or your lawyer can also do the same. In addition to presenting witnesses, the court expects you or your lawyer to present evidence, argue the law, and cross-examine the officer who issued the ticket and witnesses.

At the trial, the defedant and witnesses will be invited to the table. The officer will give their testimony first, and then the court will allow you to question the officer. The prosecutor may call you to the stand, but you do not have to testify. California upholds the defendant's right to remain silent and not testify in their case.

How to Prepare for Traffic Court in California

To prepare for traffic court in California, it is worth understanding the charges brought against you. Read the California Vehicle Code to learn more about the violations listed on your ticket. Next, prepare your defense. To mount an effective defense, you may need to recollect what you told the officer and determine what you admitted to while getting the ticket.

While requesting discovery, ask for the officer's notes. These may contain details about how they determined you committed a traffic violation. For example, for speeding violations, the officer's notes generally provide information about the equipment used to measure your vehicle's speed. By studying the instruction manual for the equipment, you will learn the limitations of the technology to contest the accuracy of the officer's speed readings.

Along with preparing a list of questions to ask the officer and witnesses presented by the prosecutor, you should also prepare the evidence you want to bring before the court. These could be written documents and photos taken at the location of the alleged traffic violation.

It would help if you also prepared your witnesses. These are usually people in your vehicle and/or in the vicinity when you were pulled over or ticketed. You may ask for written affidavits from such witnesses or ask the court clerk to subpoena them.

Finally, defendants are typically advised to appear in court in formal attire. Some courts regard casual attire as inappropriate, and a judge may refuse to hear your case if they deem that you are dressed inappropriately. You may also be expected to address the judge as "Your Honor" and maintain a professional demeanor in court. Take note of other court rules and follow them closely. Arrive in court early and ensure you have everything before the hearing.

How to Postpone a Traffic Court Date in California

California allows ticketed motorists to postpone their arraignment dates in person and by phone. Some counties' Superior Courts also accept requests for continuance and extension online or by mail. Find the court clerk's contact information on the county's Superior Court website. The clerk may only grant extensions if you submit the request some days before the court date.

To postpone a trial date, you will be required to appear before the judge with this request before the trial date. You may make appointments to see the judge online, in person, or by phone.

What Happens If You Miss a Traffic Court Date in California?

If you miss a court date, it is crucial to ascertain the status of your case. You may find the case information online on the Case Access portal that the county's Superior Court uses. Alternatively, visit or call the court for this information. The court may have a warrant for your arrest depending on the traffic violation. You may also be charged with a court violation for failure to appear. This may carry an additional fine. If the court determines the case in your absence, you may forfeit your bail money for failure to be present.