Citations

Parking Citations

Arraignment
Courtesy Notice
Mandatory Appearance
Notice to Correct
Accidents
D.U.I.
Resetting A Court Date
Law Enforcement Agency

Parking Citations

The Traffic Division does not handle parking citations. To pay or  contest your parking citation, you must contact the citing Law Enforcement Agency.

Parking Agencies

Appealing Your Parking Decision

If you disagree with the decision made by the Parking Division, you have the right to an appeal.  Contact the court for further information either by phone at 916-875-7800 or in person at the Carol Miller Justice Center.

Arraignment

An arraignment is an initial appearance in court.  At the arraignment, the charges are presented, the opportunity to enter a plea is given and, in certain cases, a determination is made whether the party has or needs an attorney.  The bail amount may be set and a future appearance may be scheduled.  The citing officer(s) will not be present.

At the arraignment you may enter one of the following pleas:

• Guilty:  You admit to the violations(s).  You may still explain the circumstances to the judicial officer.  Your appearance is necessary and will result in a conviction once you enter your plea.

• Not Guilty:  You deny the violation(s) and want to appear with the citing officer present.

• No Contest:  You neither admit nor deny the violation(s).  This plea is treated the same as a guilty plea.

Courtesy Notice

The court will mail a courtesy notice to the address on the citation explaining the options that apply to your case.

It is not mandatory that the court send you a notice in the mail. The law enforcement agency will schedule your court date at the time the citation is issued.  By signing the citation in front of the officer, you have given your written promise that you will comply with the information written below your signature.

If you do not receive a courtesy notice it may be because:

1. The court has not received the original citation from the law enforcement agency.

2. Your current address may not be updated with the Department of Motor Vehicles, and you may not have shown the officer your change of address card along with your driver's license.

3. The address written on the citation may be incorrect or incomplete.

4. Information may have been missing from the citation and sent back to the officer to amend or correct.

5. Post office error.

 

You are still responsible for contacting the court whether you receive a notice or not.  If you are unsure about your options, appear at the court no later than the date listed at the bottom of your citation.

Mandatory Appearance

You may have been cited for a violation which requires you to appear in court. If proof is also required, you must bring the proof to your scheduled appearance date. Failure to appear may result in a warrant being issued for your arrest and a hold being placed on your driver's license. Mandatory appearance citations cannot be paid without first appearing in court. 

Notice to Correct (CHP 281)

This citation is issued by the California Highway Patrol for certain types of correctable violations.  You are required to submit proof of correction(s) directly to the CHP within 30 days.  Failure to comply will result in the citation being referred to the court and a warrant issued for your arrest.

Accidents

If you were involved in an accident, the Law Enforcement Agency (LEA) determines whether a citation will be issued as a result of their investigation.  If the LEA determines a citation is to be issued, you will receive a written notice from the them or the District Attorney's Office (DA).  If you do not receive a notice within 30 days from the date of your accident, you may contact the investigating agency for further information.

Once you have received the Accident/Citation notice in the mail, you should receive a courtesy notice from the Court listing your options. If not, please contact the court by phone at 916-875-7800 or in person at the Carol Miller Justice Center.

To obtain a copy of an accident report, contact the investigating law enforcement agency.

D.U.I.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) cases are handled at the Gordon Schaber Courthouse downtown.  Some other alcohol related charges may be handled at the Carol Miller Justice Center.  If you are in any doubt as to the date, time, or location of your appearance, please call the Traffic Division at 916-875-7800.

Resetting a Court Date

The law enforcement agency will give you a court date at the time the citation is issued.  Your court date may be rescheduled one time.  You must appear at the Carol Miller Justice Center with picture identification to reset your court date.  If you have already rescheduled your appearance date once or if the judicial officer has given you a continuance, no further continuances will be granted.