Click here to fight your California traffic ticket.
When you receive a traffic citation in California, you can generally pay your fine by mail, over the phone, or online. Alternatively, you may choose to fight your ticket and possibly get your fine reduced or even dismissed. Regardless of how you proceed, you’ll save both time and money by knowing how to pay or fight your traffic ticket in California. Keep on reading to learn more.
How to Pay Your California Traffic Ticket
Your California traffic ticket, also known as traffic bail, contains the details about your traffic violation, the exact fine amount you need to pay, as well as the payment methods offered by your local court. You can usually choose from the options described below to pay your traffic ticket:
Pay your California traffic ticket by mail
To pay your California traffic ticket by mail, you need to send a check, money order, or credit card authorization to your local court clerk’s office. Simply fill out the form attached to your ticket, sign it, and return it to the address indicated on the ticket.
Pay your California traffic ticket by phone
If you prefer to pay by phone, call your court at the number indicated on the ticket. You will need to provide your name, date of birth, driver’s license number, as well as your traffic ticket number.
You can pay using a debit or credit card, but keep in mind that an additional 5% service charge will be added to the fine amount.
Pay your California traffic ticket online
Paying your traffic ticket online is often the most convenient option since you can access the system regardless of your location. You can pay using a credit or debit card authorized for online transactions. In addition, you’ll have to pay a 5% convenience fee charged by the service that your court uses.
You can find your court’s website through the California Courts Find Your Court page. You can also use the website to sign-up for California traffic school, request an extension on a date to appear, or request a one-time payment extension.
But what happens if you don’t want to or can’t pay your traffic ticket in California? Read on to find out.
What if I Don’t Pay My California Traffic Ticket?
Most courts in California will give you up to 90 days to pay your traffic ticket or enter a plea. If you miss the deadline to pay your ticket, not only will your fine increase, but your driver’s license may be suspended and the court may charge you with a misdemeanor or infraction for “failure to pay.”
Here’s what you can expect for failing to pay your traffic ticket in California:
- Increased fines. If you don’t pay your ticket within the deadline, a civil assessment of up to $300 may be added to your fine amount.
- Added points to your driving record. A failure to pay or handle your traffic ticket may also result in additional points on your driving record. More points can lead to higher insurance costs, a suspended license, and DMV fines and fees.
- License suspension. If you don’t pay your ticket on time, you will receive a notice informing you that your license will be suspended until the unpaid ticket is dealt with.
- Warrant for arrest. If you continue to ignore your ticket and you also have several points on your record or an outstanding criminal history, a warrant may be issued for your arrest.
What if I can’t afford to pay the ticket?
If you are unable to pay your California traffic ticket due to financial hardship, you may request an ability-to-pay determination from your court. The judge may decide to reduce the amount of your fine, approve a payment plan, or order community service. However, you should keep in mind that not all California courts offer these options and some fines are not eligible for ability-to-pay determinations.
Here’s what to do in case you want to pay the fine, but you can’t find your traffic ticket.
How to Find My Lost California Traffic Ticket
The State of California doesn’t offer a centralized online traffic ticket search, but there are still several other ways to search for your lost ticket:
- You can obtain your California driver’s record that includes the information about your traffic violations from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The service costs $2.
- You can check whether your county court’s website has an online traffic ticket search feature. You can find your court’s contact information using the California Courts Find Your Court feature.
- You may want to contact the county clerk at the appropriate traffic court directly for a lost ticket.
- If you’re looking for a lost parking ticket, you can contact the local agency that handles parking ticket enforcement in the city where you received it.
Use the Winit App to Pay Your Traffic Ticket
If you choose to fight your traffic ticket in California, an experienced traffic ticket attorney will be a major asset in that process. An attorney can save you both time and money by handling tasks such as requesting a court trial, representing you in court, and negotiating with the prosecutor to have your charges dropped or reduced.
The Winit app is the simplest way to find a qualified lawyer who will help you fight your traffic ticket in California. All you need to do is take a photo of your ticket and submit any evidence right in the app. Our team will get back to you with a free quote within the next 48 hours. The app allows you to choose any of the experienced attorneys available on the platform at low rates.
The process is completely risk-free and we won’t charge you unless we win your case. If you’d like to know how we may be able to help, give us a call today at (646) 859-0828.
