Traffic

• You may pay your fine in full online. There is a 5% processing fee when paying by credit card or a $1.00 fee if paying by electronic check.
• To pay by phone, call (209) 235-9735. There is a 5% processing fee when paying by credit card or a $4.00 fee if paying by electronic check.
• To pay by mail, submit a check or money order (do not send cash) payable to the Superior Court. You may also pay using a credit card by completing the Authorization for Credit Card Use form on the back of your reminder notice. There is no additional processing fee for this option.
• If your fine includes the option to provide proof of correction for a reduced fine, you cannot pay for your citation online or by phone.

If your citation is not past due, you may request a one-time 60-day extension on your due date by telephone, in person, or by mail. If your citation is past due, you must appear before the Judge or Commissioner for any further continuance.

If you wish to contest your citation, you must do one of the following:

• Use the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) program instead of appearing in person.
  ODR is an online option to possibly resolve your traffic infraction case without having to personally appear in court. ODR is available 24 hours a day from your phone, tablet, or computer. Learn more about Online Dispute Resolution.
  
  If your matter is a misdemeanor violation, Fish & Game, local county ordinance, or animal code, you cannot use ODR. Please contact the traffic department for assistance.
• Set a court date. You do not need to post bail for this option. An arraignment is where you are advised of your rights and the charges against you and you enter a plea. The citing officer will not be there. If you plead not guilty, a trial date will then be set. You can set a court date for arraignment by contacting the court clerk at the number listed on the branch court home page or by coming in person to the traffic window of that court.
• Request a court trial without an arraignment on a different day. To do this, you must pay the full “Amount Due” listed on your courtesy notice by the due date. By using this option, you are waiving time, meaning your trial can be set more than 45 days from your payment. You can request this by mail by including a letter with your payment stating that you intend to plead not guilty and would like a court trial. You may mail the payment with the letter, pay in person at any court branch, or pay online. There is a 5% fee for paying online, which will not be returned if you are found not guilty. Pay online. Once your payment has been received, you will be notified of the time and place of the trial. Depending on the outcome of the trial, your payment (minus the 5% fee for paying online) will be refunded or applied to your fines, fees, and assessments. If you are found guilty, the option to attend traffic school will be at the discretion of the judicial officer.
• Request a trial by written declaration. This option allows you to plead not guilty and contest your citation without appearing in court. This option is only available for Vehicle Code infractions or local ordinances adopted pursuant to the Vehicle Code. You must pay the full “Amount Due.” You may mail the payment with your request for a trial by written declaration (TR-200, TR-205), pay in person, or pay online. There is a 5% fee for paying online, which will not be returned if you are found not guilty. Once your payment has been received, the court will send you instructions and the forms to use. Depending on the outcome, your payment (minus the 5% fee for paying online) will be refunded or applied to your fines, fees, and assessments. If you are found guilty, traffic school is at the discretion of the judicial officer.

You may be eligible to attend traffic school if you meet the following requirements:

• You have a valid California Driver’s License.
• You cannot be assigned to, nor have attended, traffic school in the last 18 months.
• If charged with speeding, the speed must not have exceeded 100 m.p.h.
• If charged with speeding, the speed must not have exceeded 25 m.p.h. over the posted speed limit.
• You must be charged with an infraction, not a misdemeanor.
• The section(s) cannot require a mandatory appearance.
• If you hold a commercial driver’s license, you were not driving a commercial vehicle.
• Certain serious vehicle code violations are not eligible for traffic school.

If you meet these requirements and wish to attend traffic school, you will be required to pay an administrative fee of $52 to the court, plus the amount of bail indicated on your courtesy notice. A separate fee is collected directly by the traffic school you choose. If you are eligible and decide not to attend traffic school, your automobile insurance may be adversely affected.

To find a classroom traffic school near you or an online traffic school, visit the California DMV website. The traffic schools listed on the site are licensed and regulated by the DMV. The court assumes no liability when defendants choose this option and, if traffic school is not completed, all fines and fees posted with the court will be forfeited.

California courts permit commercial license holders to attend traffic violator school if they receive a citation while driving a non-commercial vehicle. The conviction and point may still appear on your driver record, even if you successfully complete traffic school. If you are eligible and complete traffic school, you may contact the DMV to request the violation point be removed from the conviction. Call the DMV Mandatory Actions department at (916) 657-6525.

Do not contact the court, as the court cannot contact DMV on your behalf or remove the point from your driving record.

Some violations are dismissed upon proof of correction with payment of an administrative fee. Please check your courtesy notice. Other violations may require additional posting of bail. Your courtesy notice will inform you what is required in your case. If your citation requires proof of correction, you must have your vehicle inspected and the citation or the back of your courtesy notice signed by any law enforcement agency or DMV office.

Note: Proof of insurance cannot be signed off by law enforcement or the DMV. You must provide proof you were insured at the time of your violation to the Traffic Clerk’s Office. If you did not have insurance at the time of your violation, you may still be eligible for a partial fine reduction by submitting proof you obtained insurance after the fact.

If your citation requires a mandatory appearance, you must appear on the date and time, and in the department, indicated on your courtesy notice. Court locations are listed on the Home Page. You must wear proper attire when appearing in court. No tank tops, shorts, or bare feet are allowed.

• If you fail to appear as promised when you signed the traffic citation, your fine may be sent to a collection agency. If your fine is sent to a collection agency, you may still appear in court, apply for an Ability to Pay determination, or contact the collection agency to set up a payment plan. Call the clerk’s office at (209) 992-5692 for assistance.
• If your case has been forwarded to Financial Credit Network, and you wish to pay in full or set up a payment arrangement, contact them at (800) 540-9011 or visit their contact page.
• If you failed to appear for your scheduled in-person or Zoom court trial, you may file an Ex Parte Motion to Vacate Conviction (infraction cases only). You can find this form on the Local Forms page. It must be filed with the court no later than 20 days after the original trial date.

The San Joaquin County Superior Court does not handle parking tickets. Refer to the instructions on the reverse side of your parking ticket for information regarding payment, failure to respond, and contesting the ticket. Do not call the court. You must contact the agency listed on your parking ticket for assistance.

Juvenile tickets cannot be paid over the phone or online. Juveniles must appear in person or send payment via U.S. mail. Do not send cash through the mail. Call (209) 992-5698 for information regarding juvenile citations.

Judicial Council of California Uniform Bail Schedule (PDF)

• If you require additional information, fill out the online form and include:
  • Name as it appears on your license
  • Date of birth
  • Citation or court case number
  • Driver’s license number
• Please allow up to three business days for a response.