When you get a traffic ticket in Los Angeles, you have several options for paying it. The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles handles all tickets in the area, and you can usually pay traffic fines online, by phone, or by mail, without needing to go in-person to a traffic court.
Traffic Tickets in Los Angeles
A traffic ticket starts when a law enforcement officer pulls you over and gives you a citation for:
- Violating a driving law such as speeding or going through a stop sign
- Not having valid vehicle registration tags
- A defect in the vehicle, such as faulty tail-lights
The citation contains information on how to pay the fine. If the violation is for a defect on your car, you need to get the problem fixed and then visit any law enforcement office during regular business hours to have the correction signed off by an officer. Then you can send the fine and signed payment coupon to the courthouse address found on the ticket.
You must take action to clear a ticket on or before the due date, or you will be charged further penalties, or may even have your driver’s license suspended.
Finding Information About Your Ticket
To access services and information about Los Angeles traffic tickets, go to the online portal at LACourt.org. Enter your citation number or driver’s license number on the website to do any of the following:
- Pay your fines
- Request a Ticket Payment Plan (TPP)
- Apply for a 60-day extension to pay your ticket
- Check your eligibility for traffic school
- Check the status of tickets
- Schedule a date to go to traffic court
Paying In-Person
In some cases, you may need to go in-person to pay a traffic ticket. Look for the words “Bail Amount” on your citation. If the words “See Below” are written there, you will find further instructions at the bottom of the citation about how to schedule a date for a court hearing.
You can make an appointment for a hearing at the website LACourt.org or at any traffic court. If you want to challenge a ticket, or if you need a language interpreter to help you, you will also need to go in-person to traffic court.
Paying by Phone or Mail
Go to LACourt.org and enter your citation number or driver’s license number. If you are eligible to pay your ticket by phone, you will be given a local area phone number to call, where you can pay fines using an automated system.
To pay the fine by mail, look for the words “Bail Amount” on the citation and send this amount to the Los Angeles Superior Court address shown on the ticket.
Going to Traffic School in Los Angeles
If you have not had a traffic ticket before or have attended traffic school for 18 months or longer, you may be eligible for a program whereby you attend traffic school to keep points off your driving record. This also helps prevent your insurance rates from going up.
Online Traffic school costs $19.95 plus the original fine amount. Traffic schools also charge for their course and for filing your completion certificate with the court and the Department of Motor Vehicles. However, your insurance rates and driving record will not be adversely affected if you attend traffic school after getting a ticket in Los Angeles.
Learn more about booking a CA DMV appointment.
