San Luis Obispo Traffic Tickets and Citations

San Luis Obispo traffic tickets are processed by the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court. This city serves as the county seat with just over 47,000 residents. Citations issued by city police, CHP, or county sheriff in San Luis Obispo go directly to the county court for handling. You can search for your ticket online or visit the courthouse in person. The court provides an online portal and phone system for basic case info. Respond to your traffic ticket on time to keep your license in good standing and avoid extra penalties that can double or triple the original fine.

SLO County Superior Court Traffic Division

All traffic tickets in San Luis Obispo are handled at the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court. The court has a dedicated traffic division for citations and infractions. This division processes tickets from the city and all unincorporated parts of the county. The main courthouse sits in downtown San Luis Obispo. You go there to pay fines, request traffic school, or appear for court.

The court offers an online portal at secure.slocourts.net. Use it to search for your ticket by citation number. You can see your case details, pay your fine, or request traffic school online. The system is open 24 hours. The court also has a phone line at (805) 706-3600 for general questions. Traffic school costs $70 in San Luis Obispo County. That fee is on top of your base fine.

The courthouse is near downtown San Luis Obispo. Street parking fills up fast. There is a public parking structure a few blocks away. Bring your photo ID and your citation when you visit. Security checks everyone at the door. The traffic clerk window is on the first floor. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays.

Search for Your Traffic Ticket in SLO

The San Luis Obispo court portal lets you search for traffic tickets by citation number. Type in the number from your ticket and your last name. The system pulls up your case with the charge, due date, and fine amount. If your ticket is very new, wait a week or two for it to enter the system. Most citations appear within 10 business days after the officer writes the ticket.

If you cannot find your ticket online, call the court at (805) 706-3600. Staff can search by your name and date of birth. They can also tell you if your ticket is in the system yet. You will need your citation number for most online services. Keep your ticket in a safe place. If you lost it, the court can give you the number over the phone once they find your case.

California also runs a statewide portal at mycitations.courts.ca.gov. This site works for San Luis Obispo tickets once they are loaded. Use it to request traffic school, pay your fine, or file a written trial. Not every court feature is on the state site, so check the local SLO portal first for the most complete options.

To find your San Luis Obispo traffic ticket online, you need:

• Citation number from the ticket
• Your last name spelled the same way as the ticket
• Date of birth if calling the court for help

How to Pay a Traffic Ticket in San Luis Obispo

You can pay your San Luis Obispo traffic ticket online, by mail, or in person. Online payment is the easiest way. Go to the SLO court portal at secure.slocourts.net and enter your citation number. The system accepts credit cards, debit cards, and e-checks. You get a receipt right away by email. The site is open all day and night.

To pay by mail, send a check or money order to the address on your ticket. Write your citation number on the payment. Do not mail cash. Your payment must arrive before the due date to avoid late fees. Mail can take several days, so send it early. If you want proof of payment, ask for a receipt when you mail it or use certified mail with a tracking number.

In-person payment is available at the courthouse traffic window. Bring your citation and a form of payment. The clerk takes cash, checks, money orders, and cards. You get a receipt on the spot. In-person visits also let you ask questions about traffic school or payment plans. The clerk can tell you if you qualify for a plan or a fine reduction.

Note: When you pay the fine, you are pleading guilty and the ticket goes on your DMV record.

Traffic School Options in San Luis Obispo

Traffic school keeps the ticket off your insurance record. The conviction still goes on your DMV record, but insurers cannot see it. This prevents rate hikes. You must meet certain rules to qualify. You need a valid license. The ticket must be a one-point violation. You cannot have gone to traffic school in the last 18 months. Speeding over 100 mph does not qualify. Commercial drivers with a CDL cannot use traffic school for tickets in a commercial vehicle.

You can request traffic school online through the SLO court portal or in person at the clerk window. Do this before your court date or by the deadline on your courtesy notice. Once approved, you pay the full fine plus a $70 traffic school fee. The court gives you a deadline to finish the course. Most people choose an online course. It takes about eight hours and you can do it at your own pace.

After you finish, the school sends proof to the court. Make sure this happens before the deadline or your ticket will go on your insurance record anyway. The DMV keeps the ticket on file for three years. Insurance will not see it if you complete traffic school on time. You can only do traffic school once every 18 months in California.

Fight Your Traffic Ticket in San Luis Obispo

You can contest any traffic ticket by pleading not guilty. You have two trial options. One is an in-person trial where you appear before a judge. The other is a trial by written declaration where you submit your case on paper and the officer does the same. The judge reads both sides and makes a decision without a hearing. Many people pick the written option because it saves time and you do not have to go to court.

To start, check the not guilty box on your ticket and mail it back. Or submit your plea online through the court portal. The court will set a trial date for in-person hearings or send you instructions for a written trial. For a written trial, you fill out form TR-205 and submit it with bail. Bail is the full fine. If you win, you get it back. If you lose, it pays the fine. You can find the form on the California courts website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov.

If you lose a written trial, you can ask for a new trial in person. This is called a trial de novo. It is a fresh start. The judge does not know about the first trial. You present your case again. If you lose the second trial, you have 30 days to file an appeal. Appeals are complex and usually need a lawyer. For most people, the written trial is the best first step to fight a ticket without hiring help.

California Vehicle Code allows written trials under § 40902. The statewide portal at mycitations.courts.ca.gov supports written trials for San Luis Obispo. The site guides you through each step and lets you upload your statement and any evidence like photos or documents.

Traffic Tickets and Your California Driver Record

Every traffic conviction in California goes on your driver record at the DMV. This record is public. Insurance companies see it when they check your driving history. Points from tickets can raise your rates or even cancel your policy. Too many points can suspend your license. A one-point ticket stays on your record for three years. A two-point violation stays for seven years. DUI stays for ten years.

You can get a copy of your driver record from the DMV. The online version costs $2. Go to dmv.ca.gov to order it. You can print it right away. This record shows all your tickets, accidents, and any license actions. If you see a mistake, contact the DMV to fix it. You may need proof from the court if a ticket should have been dismissed.

Insurance companies pull your record when you apply or renew. One ticket may not hurt much. Multiple tickets in a short time will raise your rates. Traffic school can hide one ticket every 18 months from insurance. The DMV still sees the ticket and counts the point toward suspension, but insurance cannot access that specific conviction. This helps keep your rates down.

Under Vehicle Code § 1808, the DMV must keep certain information public. Your full driving record is available to employers, insurers, and others who request it. The DMV charges $5 for a mail request or $2 online. All reportable violations appear for the retention period set by law.

San Luis Obispo County Traffic Records

San Luis Obispo is the county seat for San Luis Obispo County. The superior court handles all traffic tickets for cities and towns across the county. For full details on court locations, online portals, traffic school fees, and payment options, visit the San Luis Obispo County traffic ticket records page.

View SLO County Traffic Records