Going to Court And Paying a Fine

• Tell you what the charges (violations) are
• Tell you about your rights (ENGLISH) (SPANISH) (VIETNAMESE)
• Ask you if you want to plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest

You must reserve a date in order to see a judge. You can do this online, in person, or by phone on or before your due date. Your due date is at the bottom of the ticket.

NOTE: You can also request night court. Night court is held on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

You can go to any of the five court locations. if you wish to pay your ticket, request traffic school, request an extension or for assistance with other traffic related services. These services are also available online or by phone.

If you want to see a judge, refer to the section above Can I See the Judge About My Ticket?

There are several ways to contest your ticket and request a trial:

If your ticket is for an infraction, a judge will hear your case instead of a jury. At your trial, the police officer will state why he or she gave you the ticket. You may hire an attorney or represent yourself.

• Present evidence,
• Argue the law,
• Bring witnesses, and
• Question (cross-examine) the officer who gave you the ticket.

When your case is called, you and any witnesses you have should step forward to the counsel table. The officer will testify first. After the testimony, the judge will ask you if you want to cross-examine the officer. This means you can ask the officer questions about matters brought up in his or her testimony and other related matters concerning the case. It does not mean introducing your own testimony at that time.

You have the right to remain silent and not to testify in your own case. After hearing the officer’s testimony, you may want to waive the right to remain silent by testifying to your version of the facts and your defense. If you choose to testify, you give up the right to remain silent and you may be asked questions (called cross-examination) on matters that you have brought up in your testimony. You may also call witnesses on your own behalf and present evidence such as photographs, charts, or other written materials.

• Understand the charges (violation) against you. You can read charges in the California Vehicle Code.
• Prepare a list of questions to ask your witnesses and the officer during cross-examination.
• Bring the evidence you want to give to the judge.
• Read Advisement of Rights (ENGLISH) (SPANISH) (VIETNAMESE).

To subpoena witnesses and documents refer to the section below "How Do I Subpoena Witnesses or Documents?"

You can subpoena (require) someone to come to court to testify and bring documents or other forms of physical evidence. View the Packet - Criminal Subpoena (L-1046) on the local forms page. Included in the packet is information on how to serve the subpoena.

Dress in business attire. Shirt and shoes are required. Some courts do not allowed T-shirts. Casual attire such as wearing tank tops or shorts is inappropriate and the judge could decide not to hear your case if dressed inappropriately.

• No food, drink, or gum chewing.
• No weapons.
• Turn off pagers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.
• Address the judge as "Your Honor."
• Maintain a professional demeanor and attitude.
• Be on time for your hearing.
• Do not enter the area between the counsel table and judge’s bench without permission.
• If you are under the age of 18, you must bring a parent or legal guardian with you.

Some types of violations, such as misdemeanors or those that have mandatory sentencing requirements, require your appearance in court. If so, your courtesy Violation Information Notice will say "mandatory appearance." If your ticket requires a mandatory appearance, you must go to court on or before the due date on your ticket. You must reserve a date to see the judge.

It is the policy of the court to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal and full access to the judicial system. To request an accommodation, complete the Request for Accommodations By Persons With Disabilities (MC-410). You should file this form with the court as far in advance as possible, but at least 5 days before the date that you need the accommodation.

The court provides interpreters upon request. When you ask for a court date, let the clerk know that you need an interpreter in the language you speak so that an interpreter can be ordered for your court date. On your court date, let the bailiff in the courtroom know that you require an interpreter so that an interpreter can be sent to your courtroom.

If you ask for a court date by phone or online, indicate that you need an interpreter.

Children may be brought to the court and may stay in "Children’s Chambers" while their caregivers are conducting business with the court. Children’s Chambers is a safe drop-in center for children that lets children be children instead of spending long sessions listening to adult interactions that could be painful or frightening.

You can read more about which courts offer a Children’s Chambers and the guidelines.

If you miss your court date, you should contact the court as quickly as possible to find out the status of your case by calling (877) 872-2122. The court can order a warrant for your arrest and you can be charged with a failure to appear for violation of Vehicle Code section 40508(a), and a monetary assessment can be added. If the court is holding your bail money in trust, that money can be used to pay your fines or forfeited to the court.

Yes. Your bail refund will be mailed to the depositor (the person who deposited the money with the court) within 6 to 8 weeks after the disposition of the case (trial or dismissal of case). If you do not receive your refund, call (877) 872-2122.

If your or the depositor’s address has changed, tell the judge or clerk. You can also send a letter to the court telling them about your change of address. Send the letter to:

View the Appeals for Traffic page for more information.

Yes, but you must ask the judge for payments immediately upon being ordered to pay a fine or you can request payments from the Court Collections Office by the due date that you were given to pay.

• Call (877) 872-2122, or
• Visit a Court Collections Office at one of the five court locations.

Once you have established a payment plan, you can opt for the ease and convenience of having your payments automatically charged to your credit card.