Traffic Law Blog

Ignoring a California traffic citation is never a good idea. Overdue fines trigger additional civil assessments, collection agency transfers, potential misdemeanor charges, and other consequences. Also, an uncontested citation can lead to an automatic conviction on your DMV driving record.  If you take no action, the court may treat your missed deadline as a guilty…

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One of the worst things about getting a traffic ticket is having to go to court to resolve it. However, you can challenge the ticket and still avoid court. It’s called a trial by written declaration. What Is a Trial by Written Declaration? Under California Vehicle Code Section 40902, anyone cited for a traffic infraction…

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The ticket cost you $238 at the courthouse. Then your renewal notice arrived, and the number at the bottom did not look like last year’s. That gap is where a traffic ticket does its real damage, and most drivers do not see it coming until the bill lands. A citation in California does not stop…

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A traffic ticket in California features a due date and a dollar amount. For many drivers, paying it feels like the path of least resistance. But that fine is rarely the full cost of the violation. In many cases, drivers should fight their traffic ticket to avoid license and insurance issues later on.  If you…

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The number printed on your citation is almost never the number you expected. California layers penalty assessments, surcharges, and court fees on top of every base fine. A violation with a $100 base fine can reach $486 by the time the court closes your case. Most drivers find out weeks later, at a courthouse window…

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A traffic ticket looks minor until you read what it does to your driving record. The courtesy notice from the courthouse gives you a due date, a fine amount, and a box marked traffic school. It does not tell you what either choice costs you over the next three years. In California, one moving violation…

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