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Traffic Information


Justice Centers Cities Served
Central Justice Center
Telephone Numbers
Hours 		Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin, and Villa Park
Harbor Justice Center
Laguna Hills
Telephone Numbers
Hours 		Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, and San Juan Capistrano

Harbor Justice Center
Newport Beach
Telephone Numbers
Hours 		Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Newport Beach
North Justice Center
Telephone Numbers
Hours 		Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia, and Yorba Linda
West Justice Center
Telephone Numbers
Hours 		Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Stanton, and Westminster


Traffic Introduction

The Orange County Superior Court processes citations issued by law enforcement agencies in Orange County.

The information in this site is for the Central, Harbor, North and West Justice Centers.

Parking violations are processed exclusively by the issuing city. If you have questions regarding parking citations please contact the city in which you received the citation, or refer to the telephone number on the citation. For additional information, review the list of Agencies Processing Parking Citations.

What Does My Citation Tell Me?

It is important to read the information on the front and back of your citation. The front side of the citation issued to you provides you with the following information:

  • Citation number
  • Commercial vehicle or commercial license
  • Date and time of the citation
  • Issuing agency
  • Issuing Officer
  • Location of violation
  • Place and time by which you promised to appear

Types of Violations

Your citation may include the following types of violations:

  • Infraction Violations - An infraction is a violation of, or failure to comply with certain provisions of the Vehicle Code, local ordinance or other law or statute. Punishment for an infraction is a fine only. An infraction is not punishable by imprisonment; the maximum sentence on an infraction is a $250 fine (plus assessment and fees).
  • Misdemeanor Violations - Except in cases where a different punishment is prescribed by any law of this state, misdemeanor offenses are punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding $1000 (plus assessment and fees), or by both.

Courtesy Notices

A courtesy notice is usually mailed to you at the address listed on the citation within 21 days of the date the citation was issued. The notice contains general information and requirements and options available for resolving the citation, which may include:

  • Amount of bail, based on the violations and your prior driving history
  • Proof of correction requirements for mechanical violations, registration, license and insurance violations
  • Mandatory court appearance requirements
  • Traffic school eligibility requirements

A return envelope for mailing your payment is provided with the courtesy notice. If you do not receive a courtesy notice, contact the court because failure to receive a courtesy notice is not a legal excuse for failing to take care of the citation. It is your responsibility to take action on the citation on or before the due date listed on your citation. When submitting payments and/or documents by mail, allow 10 days for delivery and processing.

Failure to appear or take action on a citation on or before the due date may result in a DMV hold being placed on your driver's license or a warrant being issued for your arrest. A DMV hold will restrict your driving privileges and/or ability to register a vehicle. The citation may also be referred to collections and an additional $300.00 civil assessment may be added pursuant to Penal Code Section 1214.1 and a $15.00 automated warrant fee pursuant to Vehicle code 40508.5

How To Get Help With Your Citation

Court staff is authorized to provide information regarding the procedures used by the court to process a case. However, all court staff are prohibited by law (Government Code Section 24004) from giving legal advice to litigants or to assist them in filling out any forms, including forms provided by the court, for the following reasons:

  • Court staff are not attorneys. The clerical staff is trained to accept papers for filing and has no expertise in the legal consequences of information included on any of the forms.
  • The court must be neutral in any proceeding. By assisting one side or the other, court staff can cause the court to be perceived as taking sides or being biased. 

All persons seeking legal assistance from the Clerk's Office are to be directed to an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of California without naming any specific person or firm. 

Lawyers

You have the right to be represented by an attorney at your own expense, or you may represent yourself without the assistance of an attorney. If you are charged with a misdemeanor violation and cannot afford to hire an attorney, the Court may appoint a Public Defender upon your request; at the end of the case, however, you may be asked to pay all or part of the cost of that attorney. 

Accommodations

If you have a disability and need assistance, ask the Clerk's Office immediately to help accommodate your needs. If you are hearing- impaired and need assistance, please notify the Clerk's Office immediately. For more help concerning accommodations for assistance, please click here for ADA (American Disabilities Act) Information

Options For Handling a Citation

The following list contains the various options for handling your citation:

 

Obtain Proof of Corrections: Mechanical, Registration, License and Insurance Violations:

Mechanical Violations

Corrections for most mechanical violations can be inspected by the Sheriff, California Highway Patrol or other approved law enforcement agencies. Some mechanical violations may require a certificate of compliance that must be obtained at any certified light and brake station before arriving at the inspection station. Pollution Control Device violations must be certified by a smog check station licensed by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair.

There is an Orange County Sheriff's office located at each of the justice centers of the Orange County Superior Court. The Orange County Sheriff’s office will charge $15.00 to sign off your proof of correction violation.  

The inspecting officer will sign off the violation you were cited for on the back of the citation. The sign off will include the violation, the officer’s name, agency and badge number. Proof of insurance cannot be signed off by any officer.

You must submit the proof of correction that was signed off by an officer with an additional $10.00 proof of correction fee to the Information Payment center or to the court listed on your citation.

Refer to the back of your citation for further information. 

Advisement: Fraudulent or altered documentation may be referred to the Office of the District Attorney for a full investigation and possible criminal prosecution.

Registration and License Violations

If you were cited with a registration violation and have proof of valid registration from the Department of Motor Vehicles, you may submit a copy of your registration with the $10 proof fee to the court. If you cannot provide proof for the vehicle cited, payment of full bail is required.

Some violations like Vehicle Code Sections 12500, 14601 and 23109 may require a mandatory court appearance. Contact the court for further information.

Insurance Violations

If you did not have proof of financial responsibility (i.e. insurance) at the time the citation was issued, you may pay the full bail amount for this violation or schedule a court date for arraignment.

If you had proof of financial responsibility at the time the citation was issued, but were unable to provide proof to the officer who cited you, this is a correctable violation. You may either submit proof, as outlined below, with your payment or bring your insurance policy with you to show to the Court Clerk when you appear at the court.

Acceptable proof of financial responsibility must include the following information:

  • Name of insurance carrier
  • Policy number
  • Effective dates of coverage showing insurance coverage at the time you were cited
  • The vehicle must be listed on the proof of insurance

If the proof does not show all of the information, the total bail amount must be paid; if not, a court appearance is required. Billing statements are not accepted.

Advisement: Fraudulent or altered documentation may be referred to the Office of the District Attorney for a full investigation and possible criminal prosecution.

Photo Enforcement Citations

About Photo Enforcement Citations
Courtesy Notice
Not the Driver
Company Car
Image Viewing

About Photo Enforcement Citations

Red light camera citations are issued to the individual listed as the registered owner of the vehicle according to the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles. The citations are issued by vendors under an agreement with city or county government. The citations are mailed by the vendor to the registered owner.

Courtesy Notice

The registered owner of the vehicle is advised of the due date at the time the citation is issued. The registered owner may also receive a courtesy notice from the court which is mailed to the address listed on the vehicle registration. If a courtesy notice is not received, the registered owner must appear or pay the bail by the date listed on the citation.

Not the Driver

Do not pay the citation if you plan to report the vehicle was driven by someone else.

If you are the registered owner and someone else was driving your car:

  • Complete the affidavit of non liability portion of the citation to identify the driver of the vehicle.
  • Return the identifying portion of the form to the issuing agency listed on the citation. Do not return the affidavit to the court.
Upon receipt of the affidavit of non liability, the issuing law enforcement agency will issue a new citation to the person who was identified as the driver.

Company Car

Do not pay the citation if you plan to report the name of the person who was driving the vehicle.

If you are the person who will be reporting the name of the person who was driving the vehicle on behalf of the company:

  • Complete the affidavit of non liability portion of the citation that identifies the driver.
  • Return the identifying portion of the form to the issuing agency listed on the citation. Do not return the form to the court.

Image Viewing

If you received a photo enforcement citation, you may be given the opportunity to view the violation images. To make this request, follow the instructions on the citation or call the following telephone numbers:

Costa Mesa Police Department (866) 334-2157
Fullerton Police Department (866) 334-2157
Garden Grove Police Department (714) 741-5732
Laguna Woods Police Services (949) 639-0500
  You may also view your photo enforcement citation for
  Laguna Woods on their web link www.photonotice.com.
Los Alamitos Police Department (562) 431-2255
San Juan Capistrano Police Services (949) 443-6373
Santa Ana Police Department (714) 245-8496

Sign Up For Traffic School

Traffic school attendance is a program that allows persons cited for certain moving violations to receive instruction in driving and traffic safety. You cannot attend traffic school unless approved by the court clerk or a judicial officer. The clerk may grant a request to attend an eight hour traffic school program if you meet all of the following requirements:

  • You have a valid driver’s license.
  • You do not have a commercial driver’s license.
  • The offense did not occur while you were operating a commercial vehicle.
  • The alleged violations are infractions under divisions 11 and 12 of the Vehicle Code that are reportable to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
  • You have not attended traffic school or are not currently enrolled to attend traffic school. You must not have attended traffic school on a prior citation within 18 months of the issue date of your present citation.
  • You have not failed to appear under Vehicle Code section (40508a), unless the failure to appear charge has been adjudicated and any fine imposed has been paid.
  • You have not failed to appear under Penal Code section 1214.1, unless the civil monetary assessment has been paid.
  • An alleged offense does not:
    • have a point count of more than one point under Vehicle Code section 12810 or more than one and one-half points under Vehicle Code Section 12810.5(b)(2);
    • involve alcohol or drug use or possession;
    • involve exceeding a speed limit by more than 25 miles per hour;
    • charge a violation of Vehicle Code section 22406.5: or
    • require a mandatory court appearance
  • A citation that contains ONLY proof of correction for any mechanical, registration, driver’s license or insurance violations.
  • The appearance date of your notice to appear has not passed.

If you do not satisfy the above requirements, the clerk cannot grant traffic school and you must make your request to a judicial officer. If you are allowed to attend traffic school more than once in an 18 month period, the court will require completion of a 12 hour traffic school program and the dismissal will appear on your driving record. If you fail to provide proof of completion as required, a conviction will be reported to the DMV and your insurance may be adversely affected.

Orange County Resident Traffic School Information:

Do not attend traffic school prior to paying the bail and traffic school fee to the court. If you attend prior to payment, the court will not accept your traffic school completion certificate.

If you are an Orange County resident , you must attend traffic school through the National Traffic Safety Institute. The fee is $57.00 plus the bail on your citation. Upon receipt of the traffic school fees, you will be given 90 days to complete traffic school. No extensions to complete traffic school will be given. The National Traffic Safety Institute will file proof of your traffic school attendance with the court. Upon receipt of the proof of completion, your citation will be dismissed and reported to DMV as a dismissal for attendance of traffic school. Only the first dismissal in an 18 month period will be masked and confidential on your DMV record. A second dismissal will appear on your driving record. If you fail to complete traffic school by the due date set by the court, the entire fee will be deemed as bail and forfeited. DMV will be notified of a conviction, and your insurance may be adversely affected.

The National Traffic Safety Institute conducts traffic school at 5 locations in Orange County.

NON-Orange County Resident Traffic School Information:

If you live outside Orange County, you may attend a DMV approved traffic school in your area. The fee for out of county traffic school is $24.00 plus the original bail on your citation. The traffic school will charge an additional enrollment fee when you attend. You may obtain a list of DMV approved traffic schools from your local court or on-line at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/ol/ol745.htm. Upon receipt of the traffic school fees, you will be given 90 days to complete traffic school. No extensions to complete traffic school will be given. (in bold italics) Only DMV approved traffic schools will be accepted. Alternative programs approved by your local court such as home study, Internet or video courses will not be accepted.

You must submit proof of traffic school completion to the Information Payment Center indicated on your courtesy notice or the court indicated at the bottom of your citation. Upon receipt of the proof of completion, your citation will be dismissed and reported to DMV as a dismissal for attendance of traffic school. Only the first dismissal in an 18 month period will be masked and confidential on your DMV record. A second dismissal within 18 months will appear on your driving record. If you fail to complete traffic school and return the completion to the court by the due date set by the court, the entire fee will be deemed as bail and forfeited. DMV will be notified of a conviction, and your insurance may b adversely affected.

Paying For Traffic School

Effective January 1, 2008, Installment Agreements are available for the payment of your Traffic School Bail as listed on your courtesy notice. For arrangements, please appear at the Clerk's Office during regularly scheduled court hours to determine eligibility. At this time, payment arrangements are not available via the internet.

Methods for paying traffic school fees:

If you submit your payment via mail, by telephone or on the Internet, the traffic school information will be mailed to you.

Contesting Your Citation

To contest an infraction violation, you must enter a not guilty plea, post bail and request a trial.

There are two ways to contest your citation: 

  • Court Trial: A court trial is a trial where you appear in person to testify about the facts in the case. The officer who issued the citation will be subpoenaed to appear, and the prosecutor may subpoena other witnesses to appear and testify. You have the right to subpoena witnesses and to have a lawyer present, if you retain one. You may be asked to deposit the bail amount at the time of your request for a trial.
  • Trial by Written Declaration: You are entitled to a trial by written declaration. Your request for trial by written declaration must be made in person or in writing. Upon receipt the court will mail you written instructions. A trial by written declaration is a procedure where, instead of going to court for a trial on your citation, you mail or bring in a written statement on a trial by written declaration form explaining the facts of your case and why the court should rule in your favor. You may also include any documentary evidence you feel is helpful. The officer who issued the citation will also be asked to submit a written statement. You must waive your rights to appear, to testify in person, and to subpoena witnesses.

    The California Judicial Council provides instructions and a form (which is mandatory) for defendants wishing to contest a citation in writing:
    TR200-Instructions for Defendant
    TR205-Request for Trial by Written Declaration

If you are found guilty, your bail deposit will be applied toward the fine imposed. If the fine is suspended or if you are found not guilty, your bail is refunded by mail within sixty days and is returned to the depositor at the address listed on the case.

There are three methods for posting bail:

  • By telephone, using a Visa, Discover or MasterCard. Click here for Court Telephone List
  • Mail the payment (check, money order or credit card) to Information Payment Center at P.O.Box 5400, Fullerton, Ca. 92838-0400.
    • Make the check payable to the "Clerk of the Court". 
    • Write your citation number on the check or money order and include your request for Trial by Declaration.
    • By Visa, Discover or MasterCard. Click here for mail-in Credit Card Payment Form.
  • In person at the court location marked on your citation by check, cash, money order, Visa, Discover or MasterCard.

Note: Internet payments are not applicable to contesting your citation.

Pay The Citation

Note: Internet payments are not applicable to posting bail, if you have appeared in court, if you have received an extension or if your citation is past due.

Effective January 1, 2008, Installment Agreements are available for the payment of your Bail Forfeiture amount as listed on your courtesy notice. For arrangements, please appear at the Clerk's Office during regularly scheduled court hours to determine eligibility. At this time, payment arrangements are not available via the internet.

The bail on a citation is the amount of money required to guarantee your appearance in Court. If you choose to pay the bail on the citation without going to trial, it is a bail forfeiture. The citation is deemed paid, and the resulting conviction will be reported to DMV if you were cited for a reportable violation. Some violations, however, require a mandatory court appearance and cannot simply be paid.

If there are mechanical or insurance violations included in the citation, proof of correction will be required before you can pay the citation.  Proof may be submitted either by mail or in person. *Refer to Obtain Proof of Correction.*

Methods for paying a citation:

Failure to appear or take action on a citation on or before the due date will result in a DMV hold being placed on your driver's license or a warrant being issued for your arrest. 

Additional Fees

Fees may be added to your bail or fine for:

  • Continuances
  • Dismissal of violation
  • Court security
  • Establishing payment plan on fine
  • Extension of fine payment due date
  • Failure to appear
  • Failure to pay fine
  • Failure to comply with a court order
  • Warrant or civil assessment fee
  • Prior convictions

To Appear Before a Judge

Daily

If you wish to appear before a judge, you must check in with the clerk in the Traffic Department at the Justice Center indicated on the bottom of your citation at 8:00 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Night Court

Night court is offered on the first and third Tuesday of each month. To appear at night court you must arrive at the court indicated on the bottom of your citation and check in with the clerk as indicated in the Court hours for Night Court dates.



Request an Extension

The Clerk's Office may give one 45-day extension.  There are currently three methods for requesting an extension: 

 

Delinquent Citations - The following information applies to delinquent citations:

General Information

Failure to comply with the appearance date on the citation or to complete payments by the due date will result in the court issuing a warrant or placing a DMV hold on your driver's license and/or vehicle registration. Your case may also be referred to collections and an additional $300.00 civil assessment fee may be added pursuant to Penal code Section 1214.1 in addition to a $15.00 automated warrant fee pursuant to Vehicle Code 40508.5.

A warrant or hold may be issued pursuant to the following codes:

Vehicle Code Section 40508(a) warrant or hold for failure to appear on a citation.
Vehicle Code Section 40508(b) warrant or hold for failure to pay the fine.
Vehicle Code Section 40508(c) warrant for failure to comply with a term or condition of sentence.
Penal Code Section 853.7 for failure to appear on the citation or written promise to appear.
Bench warrant for failure to comply with an order of the Court.

Warrants

A warrant is a court order for an arrest. As long as a warrant remains outstanding, the individual named on the warrant is subject to arrest. 

Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Abstract

When a traffic citation is cleared, the Court notifies DMV within 10 days to remove the hold from your license.

Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Holds

To clear or release a DMV hold, you can pay by cash, money order, personal check, cashier's check or credit cards. You may remit payment by mail, in person or by telephone: Click here for Court Telephone List.

Appeals

An appeal is not a re-trial. New evidence such as testimony and exhibits are not given to the appellate court; the appellate court reviews only what evidence was given to the trial court. If you feel the judge has made a LEGAL error in the decision, then you may file an appeal.  The papers must be completed and filed with the Clerk's Office within 30 days of the court decision. Filing an appeal does not stay execution of the sentence. Click here for Form TR150, Instructions on Appeal Procedures for Infractions  You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download forms. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader

  1. File the Notice of Appeal within 30 days of the judgment or ruling at the location the case was heard. There is no charge to file an appeal. Click here for Form TR155, Notice of Appeal  
  2. You must prepare what is called a Proposed Statement of Appeal. This statement must be filed within 15 days from the date the Notice of Appeal was filed with the court. Click here for Form TR160, Proposed Statement on Appeal  

    Along with the testimony and evidence, the statement must contain your legal reason for the appeal. The statement may also be filed at the same time as the Notice of Appeal form.

  3. A Hearing to Settle the Statement on Appeal is scheduled. The judicial officer who made the decision on your case will usually conduct the hearing.
  4. The case is forwarded to the Superior Court Appellate Division for a ruling. A decision or ruling may take up to six months. The Superior Court Appellate Division may require another court appearance to clarify your written statement. Information will be sent through the mail which includes notices of all proceedings and rulings. 
  5. You may at any time abandon the appeal by filing a written abandonment. Click here for Form TR-165, Abandonment