Find your court: which one has your ticket?
Check the bottom of your citation: it names the superior court and courthouse that has your case. Use that court's online system to look up the ticket, then pay, request traffic school or ask for a trial before the due date.
Find the court on your citation
Your citation or notice names the superior court that has your case. Write down the court name, the courthouse and the due date. Then use the table to reach that court's tools.
Table: Find the court on your citation
| County | Phone | Online tool |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara County | (408) 556-3000 (Traffic Clerk's Office) | Traffic portal at portal.scscourt.org/traffic |
| Sacramento | (916) 875-7800 (Call Center) | Public Case Access System |
| Los Angeles | (213) 633-6300 (Traffic Call Center) | Online traffic services at lacourt.ca.gov |
| San Francisco | See the court's website | See the court's website at sf.courts.ca.gov |
Santa Clara County
The Traffic Clerk's Office takes calls and email, and the court runs an online portal and a virtual counter. See Santa Clara County traffic court.
Sacramento
The court lists six ways to act: the Public Case Access System, the Call Center, a Zoom counter, an in-person counter, mail and a drop box. See Sacramento traffic court.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles County lists 17 courthouses that hear traffic cases, and most steps are online. See Los Angeles traffic court.
San Francisco
For San Francisco, get the address, phone and hours from the court's official site. See San Francisco traffic court.
What every court lets you do
Each court on this site lets you take some or all of these steps:
- Look up your case.
- Pay the ticket.
- Request traffic school.
- Contest the ticket.
- Ask for a payment option or an ability-to-pay review, where the court lists one.
Details differ, so confirm each one with your court. If you have missed your date already, read failure to appear. To estimate your total, use the ticket cost estimator. Return to the guide home for the full list of topics.
Frequently asked questions
My ticket is not in the system yet. What now?
A new ticket may not show online right away, so keep your citation, note the due date and call the court's traffic clerk or use its virtual counter. The Los Angeles court states that using its website does not alter or extend any statutory deadline.
Can I appear by video?
At Sacramento, yes. The court lists appearances in person or by Zoom under Penal Code 1428.5, and it runs a Virtual Public Counter on Zoom. Santa Clara also lists a virtual traffic counter for online help. Ask your court whether your case type allows a video appearance.
Can I change my court date?
It depends on the court. Los Angeles lists an extension request among its online traffic services. Santa Clara's traffic page does not describe how to request one, so ask the clerk. Sacramento lists scheduling a court appearance as an option. Ask before the due date passes.
What if my county is not listed here?
This site covers four counties. Your citation names your court, so use that court's website to find its traffic page. The Judicial Council schedule governs Vehicle Code infractions statewide, but phone numbers, hours and online tools are local to each court.
Last reviewed · Reviewed by the californiaticketlawyerhelp editorial team