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Suspensions / Penalties

License Suspension
Failure to Appear
Failure to Pay
Failure to Correct

Civil Assessment

Warrant

 

License Suspension

Your driver's license can be suspended at the Department of Motor Vehicles for a variety of reasons, some of which are:

  • Failing to appear at a scheduled court date
  • Failing to pay a fine
  • Failing to correct a violation
  • Failing to pay child support
If your driver's license is suspended for one of the above reasons, you must contact the court at 916-875-7800 or in person at the Carol Miller Justice Center, 301 Bicentennial Circle, Sacramento, California.

If your driver's license is suspended due to a child support issue, you must contact the Sacramento County Bureau of Family Support.

Failure to Appear

Failure to appear on your scheduled court date may result in one or more of the following penalties:

  • A Civil Assessment may be imposed and your case referred to collection
  • A warrant may be issued for your arrest
  • A hold may be placed on your driver's license
  • You may be tried in absentia (in your absence)

Failure to Pay

Failure to pay any court fine may result in one of the following penalties:

  • A Civil Assessment may be imposed
  • A hold may be placed on your driver's license
  • Your fine may be referred for collection

Failure to Correct

Failure to correct an equipment violation may result in one or more of the following penalties:

  • A warrant may be issued
  • A hold may be placed on your driver's license
  • A hold may be placed on your vehicle's registration

Civil Assessment

Pursuant to Penal Code 1214.1, ". . . the court may impose a civil assessment of up to $300 against any defendant who fails, after notice and without good cause, to appear in court for any proceeding authorized by law or who fails to pay all or any portion of a fine ordered by the court."

Acceptable good cause is defined as written proof of medical incapacitation, hospitalization, incarceration, or out-of-state military duty.  Proof must be verifiable and written on appropriate letterhead stationery.

Failure to respond within 15 days of a Civil Assessment notice will result in the entry of a civil judgment and referred to collection.  In addition, a request will be sent to DMV to suspend your driver's license based on your failure to appear.

To avoid these penalties, the original bail plus the civil assessment amount must be received by the court within 15 days of the notice.  Proof of correction for appropriate violations must accompany the payment to clear the case.  Return the notice with your payment and any required proof of correction.

If the bail indicates Mandatory + $300, you need to call the Court at 916-875-7800 for more information.

If you want to contest the original charges, excluding the civil assessment, you must appear at the Carol Miller Justice Center located at 301 Bicentennial Circle, in Room 100, within 15 days of the notice to set a court date.

Warrant

A warrant may be issued for your immediate arrest for failure to appear, pay, correct a violation, or complete work project.  Any law enforcement officer in the state of California may arrest you anywhere, including your home or place of business.

To clear your warrant, you must appear in person with valid identification at either of the following facilities:

 

Sacramento County Sheriffs' Department 

711 G Street

Sacramento, California

916-874-5391

7:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday 

 

 

Carol Miller Justice Center

301 Bicentennial Circle, Room 100

Sacramento, California

916-875 - 7800

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

 

If your warrant requires a mandatory appearance, a court date will be set for you.  You may also be required to post bail.   A court date cannot be set by telephone.