Pay in Full or Request a Payment Plan

Cases that do not require a mandatory appearance may be paid in full or set up for a monthly payment plan. Choosing to pay in full or set up monthly payments is known as “bail forfeiture.” A conviction will be reported to the DMV, and your option to contest the ticket will no longer be available. Additionally, your case will not be eligible for Traffic School after signing up for monthly payments.

When requesting a monthly payment plan through the call center or online, 10% of the full amount is required as a down payment. After signing up for a payment plan with the court, the Department of Revenue Recovery will process monthly billing and payments.

Failure to pay as agreed will result in your account becoming delinquent. Collection enforcement includes, but is not limited to, garnishment of your wages, seizure of funds in your bank account(s), placement of a lien on any real property you own, the balance of your fine reported to various credit bureaus as delinquent, and seizure of your California State Income Tax refund.

Any time on or before the due date on your ticket, you may pay in full or set up a monthly payment plan through the:

• Public Case Access System with a credit or debit card.
• Call Center at 916-875-7800 with a credit or debit card.
• Virtual Public Counter (Zoom) with a credit or debit card.
• In-person at the Traffic Public Counter.
• Mail or drop box with a check or money order made payable to the Sacramento Superior Court. Postmarks are not accepted.

For a breakdown of how fines and fees are calculated, see the Frequently Asked Questions page.

Alternative Sentencing Program (Community Service)

If you cannot afford to pay the fine, you may request the Alternative Sentencing Program (community service). This is a referral that may allow you to complete service hours instead of paying all or part of the fine. You may be required to pay court fees as well as application and daily fees to the Sacramento Sheriff's Department. Program fees will be based on your ability to pay.

A clerk may grant an Alternative Sentencing Program (community service) referral for some cases; However, if your case requires a mandatory appearance, your request for the Alternative Sentencing Program (community service) must be made to a judicial officer.

When granted, you may fill out the Sacramento Sheriff's Department application and complete an interview within 30 days of the court referral. There are a variety of assignments and flexible schedules available for many physical abilities. The Sacramento Sheriff’s Department may use its discretion to determine eligibility for the program. The Sacramento Sheriff’s Department will then handle all community service placements.

Please note, you cannot be sentenced to both the Alternative Sentencing Program (community service) and Traffic Violator School on the same case.

Sacramento Sheriff’s Department Alternative Sentencing Program video

Ability to Pay

If you are experiencing financial hardship and are unable to pay your fine, you may request a reduction or the Alternative Sentencing Program (community service) based on your ability to pay.

Traffic School

If you meet eligibility requirements and successfully complete Traffic Violator School, the conviction will be recorded on your driving record, but the point will be masked.

Eligibility

Pursuant to California Rules of Court 4.104, you must meet the following conditions in order to be eligible for Traffic Violator School:

• You must have a valid non-commercial driver's license.
  • For violations occurring 01/01/2013 and after, a commercial license holder may be allowed to attend traffic school for a violation committed in a personal vehicle, but only if there is no failure to appear and only for the purpose of counting negligent operation points. The conviction will not be marked as confidential for insurance purposes.
• You must not have been driving a commercial vehicle as defined in Vehicle Code Section 15210(b).
• You did not sign up for Traffic Violator School in California within the 18 months prior to the date of this ticket.
• The charge is for a moving violation that carries a DMV point.
• The ticket does not have a misdemeanor or commercial vehicle charge, and does not require a mandatory appearance in court.
• The ticket does not involve alcohol or drugs.
• The ticket is not for Vehicle Code Section 22406.5.
• If your case involved a failure to appear warrant or a civil assessment, the failure to appear charge must be adjudicated and paid in full before you can attend Traffic Violator School.

If you meet all of the conditions listed above, you may choose to attend Traffic Violator School.

Note, if you are not eligible to attend Traffic School but do so anyway, the conviction will be reported on your driving record, and there will be no refund of any fees paid. Additionally, you will not be eligible to attend Traffic School on any other case in California for 18 months from the date of violation.

Payment and Fees

You must pay a $52.00 non-refundable administrative fee in addition to full bail and any required proof of correction fees within 90 days of the court approving your request for Traffic Violator School. This is in addition to the fee charged by the traffic school you select. No partial or monthly payments will be allowed.

Requesting Traffic School

Any time on or before the due date on your ticket, you may request Traffic Violator School through the:

• Public Case Access System
• Call Center at 916-875-7800
• Virtual Public Counter (Zoom)
• In-person Traffic Public Counter
• Mail or drop box. Postmarks are not accepted.

Once your Traffic Violator School Request has been successfully processed, a copy of your Agreement to Attend Traffic Violator School with due date and instructions can be located through the Public Case Access System.

All certificates of completion will be electronically sent to the court.

Failure to Complete

Failure to complete Traffic Violator School and/or failure to pay fines and fees by the due date may result in additional penalties added to your case and a conviction with points reported on your DMV driving record. Additionally, if you attend Traffic Violator School for multiple violations and fail to pay and/or complete the program, the violations will be convicted and the fines reinstated. The full balance due will be forwarded to a collection agency. Once your case is in collections, the court no longer has jurisdiction, and you will not be allowed to return to court to discuss your case. In addition, you will not be eligible to attend Traffic Violator School for 18 months from the date of violation.

See the Frequently Asked Questions page for additional information.

Proof of Correction (Fix-it Ticket)

Some violations may be correctable and eligible for a reduced bail pursuant to Vehicle Code §40610. If the charge is eligible, a $25.00 fee will be assessed for each violation that has valid proof of correction. Under certain circumstances, the law enforcement officer who issued your citation may deem your violation(s) not correctable, and you must pay the full bail amount or appear in court at any time on or before the date listed on your ticket.

Any law enforcement officer may sign the ticket as corrected, with the exceptions noted below. You may go to any law enforcement office during regular business hours. Do not stop an officer on any roadway to have your ticket signed off. Self-certification of correction is not acceptable, and the sale of the vehicle does not relieve you of the responsibility of correcting the violations.

• Insurance Violations - Insurance violations for 16028(a) VC are always eligible for correction and must be certified by the court. One of the following may apply to you:
  • If you had insurance at the time of the violation, you may provide proof, and your bail may be reduced to $25.00.
  • If you provide proof of insurance purchased after the date of the violation, your bail may be reduced to $496.00.
  • An insurance card or policy declaration page covering either the vehicle or the driver are considered valid proof of insurance.
• Vehicle Registration Violations - These violations can be certified as corrected by the Department of Motor Vehicles or any law enforcement officer. For Vehicle Code violation 4000(A), no current registration, you may also send a copy of your valid registration card as proof. A Temporary Operating Permit or a Report of Deposit of Fees issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles is not accepted.
• Smog control device violations of 27150 VC and 27151 VC must be certified as corrected by a State Referee Center. For more information, visit the Bureau of Automotive Repair
• Light and brake violations may be certified as corrected by any law enforcement officer or an authorized inspection and installation station.
• Dog and cat licenses may be obtained at the City of Sacramento Animal Care Services if you live in the city of Sacramento; or at the County of Sacramento Animal Care and Regulation if you live in the county of Sacramento.

Any time on or before the due date on your ticket, you may submit proof of correction with applicable fines and fees through the:

• Virtual Public Counter (Zoom)
• In-person Traffic Public Counter
• Mail or drop box. Postmarks are not accepted.

Please note, proof of correction cannot be accepted by phone.

See the Frequently Asked Questions page for additional information.

Contest Your Ticket & Set a Trial

A court trial can be requested at your arraignment. Any time on or before the due date on your ticket, you may check in for arraignment through the:

• Virtual Public Counter (Zoom)
• In-person Traffic Public Counter

A court trial will be scheduled when a plea of Not Guilty is entered. The examination of facts and law will be presided over by a judge (or another magistrate such as a commissioner or judge pro tem). The officer(s) will be subpoenaed to present any factual evidence. You will also have an opportunity to produce evidence, documents, or witnesses to support your case.

Alternatively, a court trial may be requested without appearing for arraignment if the charges are infractions, the case does not require a mandatory appearance, and is not in "failure to appear" or "warrant" status. To request a court trial without appearing for arraignment, you must submit both payment for the full bail amount, together with a written statement requesting a trial and entering a Not Guilty plea. You will receive a written verification of your court trial date. Your request must be received by the due date. Postmarks are not accepted. If payment is received without a request for trial, the payment will be accepted as bail forfeiture, and the case will no longer be eligible for trial.

Interpreter services are available for arraignments and trials.

You may attend your trial in person or by Zoom. You must be on time for your court appearance and have photo identification. If you are found guilty and a fine is ordered, you must be prepared to pay your fine in full or make payment arrangements following your hearing.

If you will be unable to attend a scheduled court trial, you must appear in person at the Carol Miller Justice Center in Room 100 to make a formal request for a court trial continuance before a judicial officer. Judicial officers may use their discretion to approve or deny continuance requests.

Advisement of Rights

Written/Online Trial by Declaration is the process outlined in California Government Code 68645.4. It allows a defendant to contest citations in writing, without having to make a personal court appearance.

To qualify for Written/Online Trial by Declaration, the case must have:

• Only infraction vehicle code violations
• No accident involved
• No failure to appear or failure to pay fine
• No mandatory appearance required
• Case must not have been sentenced
• Case is not currently in the Ability to Pay process
• No plea has been entered

Any time on or before the due date on your ticket, you may request a Written/Online Trial by Declaration through the:

• My Citations website.
• Virtual Public Counter (Zoom).
• Traffic Public Counter in person.
• Mail or drop box. Postmarks are not accepted.

Please read the Instructions to Defendant TRL/I -200 carefully for complete details. You will be required to submit the following:

• Request for Written Trial by Declaration TRL/I-205 with signature.
• Red Light Camera Statement Regarding Identification TRL/I-16 (Written Trial by Declaration) with signature, if applicable.
• Proof of correction, if applicable.
• Any facts, requests, or evidence you wish to have considered.

After receiving the Written/Online Trial by Declaration packet, a written statement will be requested from the citing law enforcement agency. A judicial officer will review your case, and you will be notified of the decision by mail. It can take up to six to eight weeks for you to receive a final disposition of your case, once you have submitted your completed forms.