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Missed your court date? How to clear a failure to appear.

Quick answer

Act now: look up your case and contact the court. A failure to appear can be charged under VC 40508 as a misdemeanor or an infraction, most courts can add a civil assessment of up to $100 (Santa Clara County has suspended them), and the DMV can suspend your license.

A hand circling a date on a desk calendar with a pen

Clear it: step by step

  1. Find your case. Search by citation number in your court's online system. The courts page links the tools for four counties.
  2. Read the case status. Note the original due date, any warning notice and any amounts.
  3. Contact the court's traffic clerk. Ask what the court needs from you to clear the failure to appear. Procedures and forms differ by court.
  4. If you received a warning notice about a civil assessment, act inside the window it states. See the next sections.
  5. After the failure to appear is resolved, ask the court about your original options: pay, traffic school, or contest.

What counts as a failure to appear or failure to pay?

Vehicle Code 40508 covers two situations:

  • (a) Willfully violating your written promise to appear is an offense, regardless of the disposition of the charge you were first cited for.
  • (b) Willfully failing to pay bail installments or a lawfully imposed fine within the time authorized is an offense, regardless of later full payment.

The charge can be a misdemeanor or an infraction. The Judicial Council's 2026 bail schedule lists 40508 on both its infraction schedule and its misdemeanor schedule, so ask the court which applies to you.

Table: What counts as a failure to appear or failure to pay?

Problem Statute What can happen How to fix
Missed a written promise to appear VC 40508(a) Misdemeanor or infraction charge Contact the court and clear the case
Missed a bail installment or fine deadline VC 40508(b) Misdemeanor or infraction charge Contact the court about payment
Failure to appear or pay PC 1214.1 Civil assessment up to $100 Appear and show good cause in the window
Notice of a 40508(a) violation VC 13365 License suspension Resolve the case with the court

The civil assessment, and how to get it vacated

Under Penal Code 1214.1, a court may impose a civil assessment of up to $100 for failure to appear or failure to pay, in addition to any other penalty.

The statute sets a safeguard:

  • The assessment is not effective until at least 20 calendar days after a warning notice is mailed.
  • The court must vacate it if you appear in that time and show good cause.

Keep the warning notice. It sets your window.

Santa Clara County: civil assessments are on hold

A standing order of the Santa Clara Superior Court, filed June 15, 2026, indefinitely suspends imposing civil assessments in criminal and traffic matters after June 1, 2026. In that court, a missed date therefore does not bring a civil assessment while the order stands. A failure to appear can still bring the other consequences on this page. Ask the traffic clerk what applies to your case.

An empty courtroom with a wood judge’s bench and American and state flags

License suspension

Vehicle Code 13365 allows a suspension upon notice of a 40508(a) violation. It is not effective before 60 days after the DMV receives the notice.

The section says it remains in effect only until January 1, 2027. Confirm the rule in force today with the DMV before you rely on it.

Traffic school after an FTA

Under California Rules of Court 4.104(b)(2)(F), a case with a failure to appear is not eligible for traffic school unless the civil assessment has been paid. The Sacramento Superior Court's list also says to resolve it first. Other courts set their own conditions. See traffic school vs. contest.

When to get help

A criminal charge or a suspension notice raises the stakes. If you get either, consider speaking with a licensed attorney. Read how a missed date affects points and insurance, or compare firms on the lawyers page.

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

Is there a warrant for my arrest?

Only the court can tell you, so call its traffic clerk. The Santa Clara County court lists an arrest warrant among the possible results of a missed date, next to a civil assessment. Willfully breaking a written promise to appear can be charged under Vehicle Code 40508(a). Do not rely on this page alone.

How do I find my case if I lost the ticket?

Use your court's online case search. Santa Clara County has a Case Info website, Los Angeles lets you search with a citation or driver's license number, and Sacramento has the Public Case Access System. Each court's page on this site links the right tool. Then ask the clerk about the failure to appear.

Can the civil assessment be removed?

Possibly. Penal Code 1214.1 says the assessment is not effective until at least 20 calendar days after a warning notice is mailed. The court must vacate it if you appear in that time and show good cause. Read the warning notice for your exact date.

Will my license be suspended?

It can be. Vehicle Code 13365 allows suspension after notice of a 40508(a) violation, not effective before 60 days after the DMV receives the notice. The section remains in effect only until January 1, 2027, so confirm the current rule with the DMV. Resolving the case with the court is the way to avoid it.

Can I still fight the original ticket?

That depends on your court, so ask the clerk. Resolve the failure to appear first: Sacramento's court requires that before traffic school. Under Vehicle Code 40508(a), the offense applies regardless of how the original charge ends, so clearing the failure to appear matters either way.

Last reviewed · Reviewed by the californiaticketlawyerhelp editorial team