California Traffic Tickets and Violations

Don't worry if you were pulled over and given a traffic ticket in California. While receiving a moving violation is never fun, there are methods to get through the California traffic ticket procedure swiftly and painlessly – and even adding points on your license. We've simplified the process to take the guesswork out of resolving California traffic fines.

Types of California Traffic Ticket

  • Infraction: This category includes all basic traffic offenses in California, such as speeding and running a red light.
  • Misdemeanor: A more serious driving infraction, such as driving without a license, driving while intoxicated, speeding excessively, and so on.
  If you get a traffic ticket, you'll be asked to sign and date it, and you'll get a copy for your records. A "Notice to Appear" is issued for all traffic offenses in California, and it provides important information such as your court date and citation number. You agree to appear in court and pay your fine by the due date when you sign a ticket. On your ticket, you'll see your court date as well as contact information for the court. It would be best not to rely on the traffic court to keep you informed about your citation because it is not compelled to do so. Use your ticket to make sure you show up on time or enter your plea by the deadline.

What To Do After Getting a Traffic Ticket

Act quickly before the "Notice to Appear" expires when you receive a traffic ticket. All courts are obligated to send you a reminder notice explaining your options as of May 1, 2017. Failure to appear in court or take action as instructed on your ticket or notices from the court may result in the suspension of your license, and the court may charge you with a misdemeanor or infraction and issue a warrant for your arrest if you do not act before the date listed in your "Notice to Appear." Other fines or assessments may be imposed if you fail to appear.   When you obtain a traffic ticket, you can usually:
  • Accept responsibility and pay the fine. You can enter a guilty plea and pay the fee,  by mailing your money to the courtroom along with a copy of the citation or reminder letter. Include proof of correction if your citation contains correctable issues, such as expired registration. If it hasn't been fixed, you'll have to appear in court to decide the appropriate fine amount.
 
  • Attending Traffic School. To attend traffic school, you must pay a fee (as long as you are eligible to go to traffic school). The court will inform you what you need to do to attend traffic school. You should not receive any points on your record if this is your first ticket and the court allows you to attend traffic school. If you are unable to pay the entire sum due to financial hardship,  you may request that the court consider your inability to pay and reduce the fee for traffic school for eligible offenses if you attend in court.
 
  • Proof of Correction. If you received a traffic ticket for a "Correctable Violation," which you can address, such as damaged equipment, show proof of correction.
 
  • Make an appearance in court. You can either appear in court on the day listed on the ticket, or you can contact the court ahead of time and request one of the following:
    • You may request an arraignment to enter your plea, at which time you will be able to:
      • Tell the court you wish to plead guilty, receive notification of the fine amount, and talk about how to pay your fine; or ask the court to examine your financial situation and consider a reduction, community service, or a payment plan; or
      • You can request a trial date by pleading "no contest" or "not guilty."
    • Alternatively, you can ask the court to decide your case through a written declaration trial, which requires you to post the entire bail amount. In some cases, you may be required to post bail if you want to set a trial date without first appearing at arraignment. If you elect a trial by declaration, you will also be required to post bail.
 
  • If you believe you are innocent, request a trial. You must appear and request a trial on the date specified on your ticket or "Notice to Appear," or another date specified in a reminder notice. You can also make this request by calling the court ahead of time. You can request:
    • A judicial officer's court trial; or
    • A "trial by written declaration" (sometimes known as a "trial by mail").

Points on Your Driving Record

The DMV assigns each traffic citation or accident in California a point value. Traffic violations can result in 1-2 points, while accidents can result in a single point. These points are recorded on your driving record, and if you accumulate too many, you may lose your driver's license.   Some basic point values are as follows:
  • 1 point for speeding, running a red light, making an unsafe lane change, being at fault in an accident, and so forth.
  • 2 points for reckless driving, DUI, driving while license is suspended, hit-and-run, and so forth.
  If you accumulate the following point values on your driving record, you may be labeled a "negligent driver," and your driver's license may be suspended or revoked:
  • 4 or more points during a year
  • 6 or more in 24 months
  • 8 or more in 36 months
  Your traffic ticket will be registered with the DMV if you plead guilty or are found guilty by the court. While one little infraction on your DMV driving record may not seem like a huge problem, even a single violation on your driving record might cause your auto insurance prices to rise.   The court may allow some drivers, particularly first-time offenders, to attend traffic school to remove the citation from their public driving record. You'll avoid the dreaded insurance rise by keeping the offense off your public record. Remember, the best way to keep your record clean and maybe get an insurance discount is to drive safely and responsibly. If you do receive a ticket, though, you can have it removed from your record by attending a traffic school course.