How to Pay Traffic Tickets in Los Angeles

Paying an LA ticket takes a few minutes. The decision that comes right before paying matters far more, because that is where drivers either accept a point on their record or choose traffic school and keep it off. Here is how to handle both.

Your Options After an LA Traffic Ticket

One Court for the Whole County

Traffic tickets written anywhere in Los Angeles County, including inside the city of Los Angeles, go to the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. The court mails a courtesy notice before your due date listing the bail amount and the options available for your citation.

The Choices on Your Notice

Depending on the violation, you can pay and close the case, request traffic school, request a payment plan or a one time extension, submit proof of correction for a fix-it ticket, or schedule an arraignment to contest the citation. If your notice says "See Below" where the bail amount should be, you must appear before a judicial officer.

How to Pay Online, by Mail or in Person

Online

The court's LA Court traffic page links to CourtHelp, which now handles traffic citations. Look up your ticket, and CourtHelp shows the actions you are eligible for, including paying, requesting a payment plan, and requesting traffic school.

By Mail or Phone

To pay by mail, complete the payment coupon from your notice and send the bail amount, payable to LA Superior Court. The court also offers an automated phone payment line for eligible citations; your local number is listed through the court website.

In Person

You can pay at any LA County traffic courthouse during business hours. Bring your notice or citation number.

A Warning About Payment Texts

The court warns that text messages demanding payment for tolls or traffic violations are not from the Superior Court. Pay only through the court's own website, mail address, phone line, or courthouse windows.

Before You Pay: Are You Eligible for Traffic School?

The LA Court Checklist

According to the court, you may qualify if all of the following are true:

• You have a valid driver's license
• The offense is a moving violation
• You were not more than 25 mph over the speed limit
• You were not driving a commercial vehicle or carrying hazardous materials
• You have not attended traffic school for a ticket issued within 18 months of this one

Why the Order Matters

Traffic school is something you request as part of resolving the ticket, not something you add afterward. If you simply pay and close the case, the conviction and its point post to your record. Our guide on who can enroll covers the edge cases.

How Traffic School Keeps the Point Off Your Record

Held Confidential

When you request traffic school, pay the bail plus the court's non refundable traffic school fee, and complete a DMV licensed course by the court's deadline, the conviction is held confidential. It does not appear on your public driving record, and the point does not count toward the DMV's negligent operator thresholds. The state's traffic school rules apply in every county, including Los Angeles.

Taking the Course Online

The California traffic school course from I Drive Safely is DMV licensed and fully online, and it reports your completion to the court electronically. Our step by step guide walks through how to take the course from enrollment to finish.

Why It Matters for Insurance

Insurers price from what they can see. A masked conviction gives them nothing to surcharge, which is usually worth far more than the course itself. Our post on tickets and insurance shows the difference.

Deadlines and What Happens If You Miss Them

The Due Date on Your Notice

Act by the due date on your citation or courtesy notice. Paying, requesting traffic school, requesting an extension, and scheduling an arraignment all have to happen by that date.

The One Time Extension

Many drivers qualify for a one time extension to pay or appear. Check eligibility through the court website before the original due date passes.

If the Date Has Already Passed

A missed deadline can add a civil assessment on top of the bail and can lead to further action on the case. Contact the court right away; acting quickly keeps more options open than waiting does.

Finishing Traffic School on Time

Once you elect traffic school, the court sets a separate completion deadline. If the court does not receive your completion by then, the conviction reports to the DMV like any ordinary ticket.

LA County Traffic Courthouses

Finding Your Courthouse

Traffic cases are heard at courthouses across the county, and your citation or courtesy notice names the one assigned to your ticket. The court website lists every traffic location with hours and directions.

When You Actually Need to Go

Most drivers never need to visit. Paying, requesting traffic school, and requesting extensions can all be handled online, by mail, or by phone. You need a courthouse when your notice requires an appearance, when you contest the ticket at arraignment, or when you prefer to pay in person. If you are curious what brought you here, our list of common LA tickets covers what drivers see most.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I pay a traffic ticket in Los Angeles online?

Use the Superior Court of Los Angeles County website, where CourtHelp lets you look up your citation and pay. The same tool shows whether you can request traffic school or a payment plan instead.

Can I request traffic school for an LA ticket?

If you qualify, yes. You generally need a valid license, a moving violation, a speed no more than 25 mph over the limit, no commercial vehicle, and no traffic school for a ticket issued within the previous 18 months. Request it before your due date.

Is the date on my LA ticket a court date?

No. The date on your citation is the deadline to take action, such as paying, requesting traffic school, or scheduling an arraignment. You only appear in court if you choose to contest the ticket or your notice requires an appearance.