General Information
To obtain assistance, you may appear in person at the Carol Miller Justice Center, Room 100 or contact the Traffic Virtual Public Counter using Zoom, a free video conferencing application. A device that has audio and video capabilities is required. Click HERE to enter the virtual waiting room. Assistance is available Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excepting court holidays. Alternatively, you may call the Traffic Call Center via phone at (916) 669-5712. Please note that wait times can exceed 30 minutes. Assistance is available Monday – Friday 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., reduced hours on some holidays.
Please have your case number and picture identification available. If you appear and plead Not Guilty, your case will be scheduled for a court trial date in the future.
Written Trial by Declaration
Vehicle Code section 40902 - external link allows a defendant to contest citations in writing, without having to make a personal court appearance. This procedure is called "Written Trial by Declaration." Written Trial by Declarations are available in cases involving infraction violations of the Vehicle Code or of local ordinances adopted under the Vehicle Code.
The following must be met in order to qualify for a Written Trial by Declaration:
- Full bail must be paid.
- Violation(s) must be vehicle code infractions only.
- No accident involved.
- No failure to appear or failure to pay fine on the case.
Instructions and forms for a Written Trial by Declaration may be obtained by contacting the court through the mail, in person, or by selecting the following link:
Written Trial by Declaration Instructions and Forms.
Submit the Written Trial by Declaration forms along with the full bail, proof of correction (if applicable), and any facts or evidence you wish to have considered. A written statement will be requested from the citing agency. A judicial officer will review your case, and you will be notified by mail of the decision. A Written Trial by Declaration must be submitted to the court no later than the date listed at the bottom of your citation.
Court Trial
The examination of facts and law will be presided by a judge (or other magistrate such as a commissioner or judge pro tem). The officer(s) will be subpoenaed to present any factual evidence. At this time, you must also be prepared to produce all evidence, documents, or witnesses to support your case.
A court trial can be requested at your arraignment or you can request a court trial without appearing for arraignment. The following requirements must be met to qualify for a court trial without appearing for arraignment:
- Full bail must be paid.
- Violation(s) must be infractions only.
- Case cannot be designated as "mandatory appearance".
- No prior failure to appear on the case.
- Enter a not guilty plea in writing.
If you want the court to set a trial, at the time you pay bail you must clearly request in writing that you are entering a plea of NOT GUILTY and that you want a trial.
Contesting a Judicial Decision
An appeal can be filed - external link within 30 days only after being found guilty in a court trial. New evidence is not accepted on appeal. The appellate court's decision deals with the evidence offered and decisions made at the time of the trial.