Inyo County Traffic Ticket Search
Traffic citations in Inyo County are processed by the Superior Court serving this Eastern Sierra region from Independence and Bishop. When you get a traffic ticket from CHP, Bishop Police, or the Inyo County Sheriff along Highway 395 or other county roads, your case goes through one of these court locations. Inyo County covers a vast area but has a small population of about 18,000 residents. You will receive a courtesy notice by mail with your bail amount and due date. The county provides an online payment portal where you can pay traffic fines electronically. Traffic school is available for eligible violations with a $73 administrative fee. Phone and in-person services are also available at court locations in Independence and Bishop.
Inyo County Traffic Facts
Pay Traffic Tickets Online
Inyo County Superior Court uses the ePayIt system for online traffic ticket payments. You can pay 24 hours a day using a credit card, debit card, or electronic check. The portal accepts payments for traffic fines and other court fees. You need your citation number to look up your case and make a payment.
Access the Inyo County online payment portal at inyo.epay-it.com to pay traffic tickets and court fees electronically.
Processing fees apply when you pay by card. The fee is a percentage of your total amount due. Electronic bank payments typically have lower fees than credit card payments. Your payment posts to your case within one business day in most situations. Save your confirmation number for your records as proof that you paid.
Paying the fine means you plead guilty to the violation. The conviction goes on your California DMV record. Points get added based on what type of violation you committed. Insurance rates could increase when the company sees the point on your next renewal. Consider all your options before paying. You might want to attend traffic school or contest the citation instead.
Inyo County Superior Court Locations
Inyo County operates court locations in Independence and Bishop. The main courthouse is in Independence at 168 North Edwards Street. The Bishop facility serves the northern part of the county. Call (760) 872-3038 for traffic court information. Staff can tell you which location handles your case, how much you owe, and what options are available.
Visit the Inyo County Superior Court Traffic Division page at inyo.courts.ca.gov traffic division for information about court procedures and services.
In-person services are available at court clerk windows during business hours. Hours are Monday through Friday but specific times vary by location. Call ahead if you plan to visit to make sure the office is open. Some people prefer to handle their ticket in person rather than online or by mail.
The traffic school administrative fee in Inyo County is $73. You pay this fee plus the bail amount on your ticket if you choose traffic school. After completing an approved course, the conviction goes on your DMV record but gets masked from insurance companies. They cannot see the point when they check your driving history for rating purposes.
Ways to Pay Your Fine
Pay online through the ePayIt portal using a card or bank account. This is the fastest way and you get instant confirmation. Pay by mail with a check or money order made out to Inyo County Superior Court. Write your citation number on the check. Send it to the address on your courtesy notice. Pay in person at the courthouse in Independence or Bishop during business hours. Bring cash, check, or card.
Wait at least two weeks after getting your ticket before trying to pay. Officers issue citations at the scene, but courts need time to process and enter them into the system. If you try to pay too soon, your case will not show up yet. After two weeks, most tickets appear in the Inyo County system and you can pay online or check the balance.
Request an extension if you need more time to pay. Call the court before your due date and explain your situation. The court might grant extra time. Extensions are easier to get before the deadline passes. Once you are late, penalties start adding up and your options become limited in Inyo County.
Traffic School Option
You can attend traffic school in Inyo County if you meet eligibility requirements. Your violation must qualify. You cannot have used traffic school in the past 18 months. You must have a valid California driver license. If you meet these conditions, contact the court to request traffic school before your deadline.
The $73 administrative fee is among the higher rates in California. You pay this fee plus your bail amount. The court gives you a deadline to complete the course and submit your certificate. Most people take an online traffic school that you can do from home at your own pace. The course takes a few hours total spread over one or more sessions.
After you finish the course and pass the final test, the school gives you a completion certificate. Submit that to Inyo County Superior Court by the deadline they gave you. The court reports the conviction to DMV with a confidential marking. Insurance companies cannot see it. Your rates stay the same even though you got a ticket.
Missing the traffic school deadline means you lose the benefit. The point becomes visible on your record. Insurance sees it and your rates will likely go up. The extra insurance cost over three years is far more than the $73 traffic school fee, so completing the course on time saves you money in Inyo County.
- Check if your violation qualifies
- Request traffic school before the deadline
- Pay $73 administrative fee plus bail
- Complete approved online or classroom course
- Submit certificate by court deadline
Contesting Your Citation
You can fight any traffic ticket in Inyo County. Request a trial if you think the citation is wrong or if you have a defense. Two trial types are available. Trial by written declaration lets you submit your case on paper without going to court. In-person trial requires you to appear at the courthouse on a scheduled date.
Written declarations work well if you live far from the courthouse or cannot take time off work. You fill out forms explaining your defense. The officer submits their version. A judge reviews both and makes a decision based on the written statements. If you lose, you can still request an in-person trial after that. This gives you two chances to fight the ticket in Inyo County.
In-person trials let you present your case directly to the judge. You can bring evidence or witnesses. The officer might or might not appear. If the officer does not show up, your case could get dismissed depending on the circumstances. The judge hears both sides and makes a ruling.
Some violations are correctable. Fix-it tickets include broken lights, expired registration, or no proof of insurance. Get the problem fixed and have it signed off by law enforcement or an authorized station. Submit proof of correction to Inyo County court with a $25 fee. The charge does not become a conviction on your DMV record. You avoid points and insurance increases.
Failure to Respond Penalties
Ignoring your traffic ticket leads to serious problems in Inyo County. The court adds a civil assessment fee to your balance. This fee is typically $100 or more. Your case gets reported to DMV as failure to appear. DMV suspends your driver license. You might face a criminal charge of failure to appear, which is a misdemeanor that goes on your record separate from the traffic violation.
A suspended license means you cannot legally drive in California. If you get caught driving on a suspended license, you face additional criminal charges and fines. Getting your license back requires clearing the Inyo County case, paying all fees, and going through DMV reinstatement which has its own costs and requirements.
Some people never get the courtesy notice in the mail. Maybe it got lost or went to an old address. You are still responsible for the ticket even if you did not get the notice. Call the court if you think you might have an open case but never received anything about it. They can look up your case by driver license number.
Traffic Tickets and DMV Records
Inyo County reports all traffic convictions to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. DMV adds the violation to your driving record. Most infractions stay on your record for three years from the conviction date. Serious violations like DUI remain for ten years. Points get assigned based on the violation type. One point for most common infractions. Two points for more serious acts.
You can get your own driving record from the DMV for two dollars online. Create an account on the DMV website. Request your official driver record. It shows all convictions, accidents, and points on file. Insurance companies check this same record when they set your rates. Employers might ask for it if driving is part of your job.
Traffic school masks one point every 18 months from insurance view. DMV still has the conviction in their system. They mark it confidential so insurance cannot see it. Your rates stay lower. The $73 traffic school fee in Inyo County is less than the extra premiums you would pay over three years with a visible point on your record.
California Traffic Laws
State law governs traffic ticket procedures across California. The Vehicle Code sets rules for citations, court processing, and DMV reporting. Inyo County follows the same laws as all other California counties. Procedures are consistent statewide even though each Superior Court is independent.
Read California Vehicle Code 1808 at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov Vehicle Code 1808 for information about driver record access and retention periods.
The $25 proof of correction fee is set by Vehicle Code 40611 statewide. Every California county charges this amount. Courts cannot charge more or less. It covers administrative costs when you submit proof that you fixed a correctable violation.
California courts provide self-help resources at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov traffic with guides on handling tickets throughout the state.
Traffic Tickets in Nearby Counties
If your ticket was issued in a neighboring county, contact that county's court. Each California Superior Court operates independently. Traffic cases are processed where the citation was issued.
- Mono County to the north
- Tulare County to the west
- Kern County to the southwest
- San Bernardino County to the south
Check your citation to see which county court is listed. The ticket shows where to send payment. If you are not sure, look at the location where you were stopped. Inyo County only handles tickets issued within its borders.