Traffic Ticket Records in Fresno County

The Fresno Superior Court Traffic Division keeps all traffic ticket records for Fresno County. Anyone who gets a traffic citation in Fresno County can search case details, pay fines, or request a court date through the court system. Traffic cases in Fresno County come from law enforcement throughout the county, from city streets in Fresno to highways in rural areas. The court handles moving violations, fix-it tickets, and citations from the California Highway Patrol. You can access most traffic ticket information online, by phone, or in person at the courthouse in Fresno County. Processing times vary based on when the officer submits the citation, but most tickets appear in the system within two weeks of being issued in Fresno County.

Fresno Superior Court Traffic Division

The Fresno Superior Court manages all traffic tickets in Fresno County. This includes citations from Fresno Police, California Highway Patrol, and other agencies. The court has multiple locations. Most traffic cases are handled at the main courthouse in downtown Fresno. You can also handle some matters at branch locations in other parts of Fresno County.

The Traffic Division provides several ways to deal with your citation in Fresno County. Pay your fine online or by mail. Request traffic school if you qualify. Contest the ticket by asking for trial. You must respond before the due date shown on your courtesy notice. If you do nothing, the court will add a late fee and may suspend your license in Fresno County.

For help with traffic tickets in Fresno County, visit the Fresno Superior Court Traffic Division website. The site has forms, fee info, and instructions for each option. You can reach the traffic court at (559) 457-1700 during business hours. Phone wait times can be long, so check the website first for basic questions about traffic tickets in Fresno County.

Search Traffic Tickets in Fresno County

You can look up traffic ticket records in Fresno County using the court's online system. The public portal shows case status, fines owed, and due dates. Use your citation number or driver license to search. Most tickets show up within 10 to 14 days of being issued in Fresno County.

To search for a traffic ticket, you need one of these:

• Citation number from your ticket
• Driver license number
• Case number if already assigned

The online portal for Fresno County was available in the past but may have connection issues. If you can't access the portal, call the court at (559) 457-1700. Court staff can look up your case by citation or license number over the phone in Fresno County. They can tell you the amount owed and the due date. For written confirmation, you can visit the courthouse in person and request a printout of your traffic ticket record in Fresno County.

Note: Some citations take longer to appear in the system if the officer delays filing the paperwork with the court in Fresno County.

How to Pay Traffic Tickets

Fresno County offers multiple ways to pay traffic fines. Most people pay online for speed. You can also pay by mail, phone, or in person at the courthouse. The method you choose does not change the amount you owe in Fresno County. Processing fees may apply for certain payment types.

Online payments go through the court's payment portal if it is working. You will need your citation number and a credit or debit card. Payment posts within one business day in Fresno County. By mail, send a check or money order to the Fresno Superior Court with your citation number on the memo line. Do not send cash. Mail payments can take several days to process in Fresno County.

Phone payments can be made by calling (559) 457-1700 and following the automated system prompts. Have your citation number ready. A convenience fee applies to phone payments in Fresno County. In-person payments are accepted at the courthouse cashier window during business hours. Bring your citation. The cashier accepts cash, checks, and cards. You get a receipt right away when you pay in person in Fresno County.

When you pay the fine, you give up your right to contest the ticket. The violation goes on your DMV record under California Vehicle Code Section 1808. Your insurance rates may increase. If you want to fight the ticket, do not pay the fine. Request a trial instead in Fresno County.

Traffic School in Fresno County

Traffic school can keep the violation off your insurance record in Fresno County. You still pay the fine plus a traffic school fee. The court charges $74 for traffic school in Fresno County. You also pay the school directly for the course, which usually costs $20 to $50 depending on the provider you choose.

You must ask for traffic school before your due date. Not all tickets qualify. You can only use traffic school once every 18 months in California. Violations over 100 mph do not qualify. Neither do certain commercial driver violations in Fresno County.

To request traffic school in Fresno County, follow these steps:

• Check your eligibility on the court website
• Pay the fine and the $74 traffic school fee
• Choose a licensed traffic school from the state list
• Complete the course before your deadline
• The school will report your completion to the court

Once you finish traffic school, the point stays on your DMV record but it is hidden from insurance companies under California law. This keeps your rates from going up in Fresno County. If you miss the deadline, you lose the traffic school option and the point goes on your record. The court will not grant extensions for traffic school completion in Fresno County.

Contest Your Traffic Ticket

You have the right to fight a traffic citation in Fresno County. Request a trial instead of paying the fine. Two trial options exist: in-person or by written declaration. Most people try written declaration first because it does not require a court appearance in Fresno County.

For a trial by written declaration, you submit your statement in writing. The officer does the same. The judge reviews both and makes a decision. If you lose, you can still request an in-person trial in Fresno County. This gives you two chances to contest the ticket.

In-person trials require you to appear at the courthouse on your scheduled date. The officer must also appear. If the officer does not show, the case is often dismissed in Fresno County. You can present evidence and witnesses. The judge decides if you are guilty or not. If guilty, you pay the fine. If not guilty, the case is dismissed and nothing goes on your record in Fresno County.

To request a trial, check the box on your courtesy notice or submit a request through the court website. You must post bail, which is the full fine amount. If you win, you get the bail back. If you lose, it goes toward the fine in Fresno County. The trial process can take several months from start to finish in Fresno County.

Fix-It Tickets in Fresno County

Fix-it tickets require you to fix a problem with your car. Examples include broken lights, expired tags, or missing license plates. Once you fix the issue, you get it signed off. Then you pay a small fee to the court in Fresno County.

The proof of correction fee is $25 in California under Vehicle Code Section 40611. This applies in Fresno County as well. To get the ticket signed off, take your car and the citation to a DMV office, law enforcement agency, or authorized inspection station. They will check that you fixed the problem. They sign the citation in Fresno County.

Once signed, submit the proof to the Fresno Superior Court with your $25 payment. You can do this by mail or in person. If you submit before the deadline, no additional fines apply. If you miss the deadline, the court can add late fees and the full fine for the violation in Fresno County.

Missed Court Date or Late Payment

If you ignore a traffic ticket in Fresno County, the court will add penalties. A civil assessment of $100 or more can be added under California Penal Code Section 1214.1. The court may also report a failure to appear to the DMV. The DMV can suspend your license until you clear the ticket in Fresno County.

To fix a failure to appear, contact the Fresno Superior Court. You will need to pay the original fine plus the civil assessment. In some cases, you can ask the court to reduce or remove the assessment if you show good cause. The court has the power to grant or deny this request in Fresno County.

Your license will stay suspended until you resolve the ticket and the DMV receives notice from the court. The DMV charges a reissue fee to lift the suspension in Fresno County. It is cheaper and easier to handle the ticket on time. If you need more time, call the court before your due date and ask for an extension in Fresno County.

DMV Driver Records for Fresno County Tickets

Traffic tickets in Fresno County get reported to the California DMV. The DMV keeps a record of all violations on your driver history. This record affects your license status and insurance rates. You can request a copy of your DMV record to see what violations are on file.

The DMV offers online driver record requests at dmv.ca.gov. The fee is $2 for an online request. Mail requests cost $5. Your record shows all reportable violations for the past three to ten years depending on the violation type under Vehicle Code Section 1808. Most traffic tickets stay on your record for three years in Fresno County.

If you completed traffic school for a Fresno County ticket, the point will be on your DMV record but marked as confidential. Insurance companies cannot see it. If you did not do traffic school, the point is visible and can raise your rates. Check your DMV record regularly to make sure all info is correct in Fresno County.

Legal Assistance for Traffic Cases

Most traffic tickets in Fresno County do not require a lawyer. You can handle payment, traffic school, or simple trials on your own. For more complex cases, such as DUI or reckless driving, you may want legal help. Several resources exist in Fresno County.

The Fresno County Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service. Call them to get matched with a traffic attorney in Fresno County. Many lawyers offer a free or low-cost first meeting. Legal aid organizations in Fresno County focus on civil matters but can sometimes point you to resources for traffic issues. The court also provides self-help services and forms at the courthouse in Fresno County.

For general questions about traffic law in California, visit selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic. This state resource explains your rights and options when dealing with traffic tickets in Fresno County. You can also use the statewide MyCitations portal at mycitations.courts.ca.gov to handle tickets online in participating courts, though Fresno County's availability may vary.

Cities in Fresno County

Fresno County includes several cities where traffic citations are common. All tickets issued in Fresno County are handled by the Fresno Superior Court, no matter which city the violation occurred in. Cities with their own police departments issue tickets that go to the same court system in Fresno County.

Other cities in Fresno County include Clovis, Selma, Sanger, Reedley, Coalinga, Fowler, Kingsburg, Parlier, Firebaugh, Huron, Kerman, Mendota, Orange Cove, and San Joaquin. All traffic tickets from these cities are processed through the Fresno Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

If your traffic ticket was issued near a county line, make sure it is actually a Fresno County citation. The county listed on the ticket determines which court handles your case. These counties border Fresno County.