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Sacramento traffic ticket? Numbers, tools and options.

Quick answer

Handle a Sacramento ticket through the Public Case Access System, by phone, at the Zoom Virtual Public Counter, in person, or by mail. Paying in full is a bail forfeiture: the conviction goes to the DMV and you can no longer contest. A monthly plan ends traffic school.

White columns of the California State Capitol in Sacramento under a blue sky

Reach the court

Table: Reach the court

Contact Detail
Additional options (916) 669-5712
Call Center (916) 875-7800 (pay with a credit or debit card; payment plans by phone)
Online Public Case Access System (pay in full, request traffic school, request a payment plan, view documents)
Virtual Virtual Public Counter on Zoom
In person Traffic Public Counter
Mail and drop box Postmarks are not accepted

Confirm where the Traffic Public Counter is with the Call Center before you visit.

Pay, or set up a plan

Paying in full is a bail forfeiture. A conviction is reported to the DMV and the option to contest ends. Starting a monthly payment plan is also treated as bail forfeiture, and the court says the case is then not eligible for traffic school.

A plan needs a down payment of 10% of the full amount. Ask the Call Center at (916) 875-7800 or check the court's ticket options page for current terms.

Request traffic school

The court lists these conditions, under California Rules of Court 4.104:

  • A valid noncommercial license.
  • You were not driving a commercial vehicle.
  • No traffic school sign-up in the prior 18 months.
  • A moving violation that carries a point.
  • No misdemeanor or commercial vehicle charge.
  • No mandatory appearance.

The school's own fee is separate; the court's ticket options page lists the court's current charges and deadline. Completing school records the conviction and masks the point.

Commercial license holders: for violations on or after January 1, 2013, you may attend for a violation in a personal vehicle, only to avoid negligent-operator point counting. The conviction is not confidential for insurance. Read the school or contest comparison.

Appear by Zoom or in person

The court lists appearances in person or by Zoom under Penal Code 1428.5. The court's traffic page lists three options: pay a ticket, schedule a court appearance, or request traffic school.

If you can't pay

The court offers a community service referral and an ability-to-pay fine reduction on request. Ask at the Call Center before you start a payment plan, because the court says a case is not eligible for traffic school after you sign up for monthly payments.

Mail and drop box

You can pay by mail or in the drop box. The court does not accept postmarks, so a payment must arrive on time. Missed dates are covered in failure to appear. Estimate your total with the ticket cost estimator, or return to the courts overview.

Our picks for you

These firms list traffic ticket work on their own websites. The picks are not a ranking.

  1. Ticket Crushers, A Law Corporation

    4.9 on Google · 605 reviews

    Adam Cohen, Esq. (founder). Adam Cohen founded the firm in 2015. The firm says an attorney from its office appears on your behalf for non-criminal violations.

    Speeding tickets and speeding over 100 mphRed light and red light camera ticketsFailure-to-appear notices and suspended-license problemsNegligent operator hearingsCommercial driver citationsCriminal defense and DUI defenseFlat fee from $149Bilingual service available (Spanish)

    Review rating and count taken from the firm’s site on 2026-10-13.

    (866) 842-5384Get a flat-fee quote

  2. The Nieves Law Firm

    • 1100 11th St., 3rd Fl., Rm 311, Sacramento, CA 95814 (Sacramento office)(916) 545-1989
    • thenieveslawfirm.com

    Its Sacramento traffic page says it represents clients with a speeding ticket or a red light violation.

  3. Stephen G. Rodriguez & Partners

    • 633 W 5th St, 28th Floor, Suite 2874, Los Angeles, CA 90071(213) 481-6811
    • lacriminaldefenseattorney.com

    Its speeding-ticket page says it offers a complimentary consultation to drivers facing a speeding ticket in Los Angeles.

Frequently asked questions

What is bail forfeiture?

At the Sacramento Superior Court, paying in full is a bail forfeiture: a conviction is reported to the DMV and the option to contest ends. Starting a monthly payment plan is also treated as bail forfeiture, and the court says the case is then not eligible for traffic school. Decide on your route before you pay.

How much down for a payment plan?

The court says 10% of the full amount is required as a down payment for a monthly payment plan. It also says the case will not be eligible for traffic school after you sign up. Check the court's ticket options page, or call (916) 875-7800, to confirm the current terms before you sign up.

What does traffic school cost in Sacramento?

The school you choose sets its own fee. The court's own charges and payment deadline are on its traffic ticket options page, and this page does not list them. Check the court's eligibility list before you apply, and keep every receipt the court and the school give you.

Can I appear by Zoom?

Yes. The Sacramento Superior Court lists appearances in person or by Zoom under Penal Code 1428.5, and it operates a Virtual Public Counter. Ask which type of hearing your case allows, and confirm how to join well before your date.

Are postmarks accepted?

No. For payments sent by mail or left in the drop box, the court says postmarks are not accepted. Send or drop your payment early enough that it reaches the court before your due date, and keep a copy of what you send.

Last reviewed · Reviewed by the californiaticketlawyerhelp editorial team