San Bernardino County Traffic Tickets

San Bernardino County traffic ticket records are handled through the Superior Court of California. This county spans both urban and desert areas with multiple court locations. You can search for traffic citations online, pay fines, or request trial dates. The court system serves all of San Bernardino County with offices in multiple cities across this large geographic area. Most traffic cases are processed through one central online portal that covers the entire county jurisdiction. The portal gives access to all citations issued within county limits regardless of the city where you received your ticket.

Online Traffic Portal

The San Bernardino Superior Court runs a web portal for traffic cases. This system lets you look up citations by ticket number or license plate. You need at least one of these to search. The portal shows your ticket details, amounts due, and court dates. It works for tickets issued anywhere in San Bernardino County regardless of which city the citation was written in.

Visit cap.sb-court.org/traffic to access the traffic portal. Enter your citation number as it appears on your paper ticket. The site will pull up your case and show the violation, fine amount, and due date. You can pay online using a credit card or debit card. A processing fee is added to card payments. The portal also lets you request traffic school if you are eligible or schedule a court appearance to contest the ticket in San Bernardino County.

The portal is available around the clock. You can access it from home or on your phone. For technical help or if the site is down, call (909) 481-4228. This line is also available 24 hours a day. Staff can look up tickets by phone if needed and tell you the amount owed or your court date in San Bernardino County.

Note: It may take a few days after receiving your ticket for it to appear in the online system.

San Bernardino Court Traffic Division

Traffic cases in San Bernardino County are managed by the Superior Court. The court has multiple locations that handle traffic matters. Where you go depends on where you got your ticket. Check your citation for the court address listed at the bottom of the ticket. This tells you which branch has your case.

The main traffic division website is at sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/divisions/traffic. This page has info on how to pay, how to request traffic school, and what to do if you miss your court date. The site also lists forms you can download and fill out for various requests like extensions or payment plans in San Bernardino County.

If you need to speak with a live person, call during regular business hours. The court can answer questions about your specific case, tell you what documents to bring, or help with payment arrangements. They can also tell you if your license is at risk of suspension due to unpaid tickets in San Bernardino County.

Pay Traffic Tickets

San Bernardino County offers several ways to pay traffic tickets. Online payment is the fastest method. Go to the traffic portal and enter your citation number. Follow the prompts to pay with a card. You get a receipt right away. Mail payments are accepted at the court address on your ticket. Send a check or money order with your citation number written on it.

In-person payments can be made at any courthouse location during business hours. Bring your ticket or citation number. The clerk will look it up and take your payment. They accept cash, checks, money orders, and cards. Some courts may have kiosks that take payments without waiting in line at the clerk window in San Bernardino County.

Payment options in San Bernardino County include:

• Online at the court portal using credit or debit card
• By phone at (909) 481-4228 or (760) 241-9529 using automated system
• By mail to the court address listed on your citation
• In person at any courthouse during business hours

Paying the ticket means you are pleading guilty to the violation. The conviction goes on your driving record. Points may be added to your license depending on the violation type. If you want to avoid this, you can request a trial or traffic school instead of paying outright in San Bernardino County.

Traffic School Option

Traffic school lets you mask a point from your driving record in San Bernardino County. Insurance companies cannot see violations that are masked. This can save you money on premiums. Not all tickets qualify for traffic school, so check your eligibility before signing up.

You can request traffic school through the online portal or by calling the court. The request must be made before your court date or payment due date. San Bernardino County charges a $55 administrative fee for traffic school. This is in addition to the fine for the ticket itself. You pay both when you enroll in the program.

Once approved, you have a set time to complete an approved traffic school course. The course must be licensed by the California DMV. You can find a list at the DMV website. Most people do the course online. When you finish, the school sends proof to the court. The court then reports to DMV that the violation should be masked from your record in San Bernardino County.

You can only attend traffic school once every 18 months. If you went to school for a prior ticket within that window, you are not eligible again. The violation must also be eligible under state law. Serious violations like DUI or reckless driving do not qualify for traffic school in San Bernardino County.

Note: The $55 fee is the court administrative charge and does not include the cost of the traffic school course itself.

Contest Your Ticket

You have the right to fight your traffic ticket in San Bernardino County. This means requesting a trial. You can do this online, by mail, or in person. The court will set a trial date and notify you. You must appear on that date or you lose by default.

San Bernardino County offers two types of trial for traffic cases. A trial by written declaration lets you submit your defense in writing without going to court. You fill out a form and mail it with any evidence. The officer also submits a written statement. A judge reviews both and issues a decision. If you lose, you can request an in-person trial after that.

A court trial means you appear before a judge and present your case. The officer who issued the ticket must also be there. You can question the officer and present witnesses or documents. The judge makes a ruling the same day or mails it later. If you are found not guilty, the ticket is dismissed and you owe nothing. If guilty, you pay the full fine plus any court costs added in San Bernardino County.

To request a trial in San Bernardino County, you need to:

• Submit your request before the due date on your ticket
• Pay bail, which is the full fine amount held until trial concludes
• Attend your scheduled court date if doing an in-person trial
• Provide evidence or testimony to support your defense

If you win your trial, the bail is refunded to you. If you lose, it is applied to the fine. Most trials for traffic tickets happen within 45 days of the request date in San Bernardino County.

Missed Court Date or Payment

Missing a court date or failing to pay by the due date causes serious problems in San Bernardino County. The court will add a civil assessment of up to $300 to your fine. Your license may be suspended by the DMV. A hold can be placed on your vehicle registration so you cannot renew it.

If you miss a deadline, contact the court right away. You can often get a new date or set up a payment plan. The sooner you call, the more options you have. The court may be able to remove some penalties if you act quickly and show good cause for the delay in San Bernardino County.

Under California Vehicle Code section 40508, failing to appear can result in a separate charge. This is a misdemeanor. It can lead to a warrant for your arrest. If you have an outstanding ticket with a missed date, call the court at (909) 481-4228 to clear it up before it gets worse in San Bernardino County.

To resolve a failure to appear in San Bernardino County:

• Call the court traffic line as soon as possible
• Ask about options to clear the failure and reschedule
• Pay any civil assessments added to your case
• Appear at your new court date if one is set
• Contact DMV to reinstate your license after resolving the case

The court may allow you to make payments over time. You usually need to pay a portion up front and agree to monthly installments. Once you complete the plan, the hold on your license and registration is lifted in San Bernardino County.

Driver Records and DMV

Traffic tickets in San Bernardino County are reported to the California DMV. Once the court closes your case, they send the conviction info to DMV. The DMV adds it to your driving record. This record shows all your violations, suspensions, and accidents.

You can get a copy of your driving record from the DMV. The online request costs $2 at dmv.ca.gov. Mail requests cost $5. Your record shows how many points you have. Too many points can lead to a license suspension in California.

Most traffic violations add one point to your record. Serious violations add two points. Points stay on your record for three to seven years depending on the violation. Insurance companies check your points when setting your rates. More points mean higher premiums in San Bernardino County and across California.

If you completed traffic school, the violation still shows on your record but is marked as confidential. Insurers cannot see it. This is why traffic school is a good option if you want to keep your rates low after getting a ticket in San Bernardino County.

Legal Help for Traffic Cases

Most people handle traffic tickets on their own in San Bernardino County. The cases are simple and the fines are usually not high. But if your case is complex or you face license suspension, you may want a lawyer. Traffic attorneys can fight tickets, negotiate reduced charges, or represent you at trial.

The San Bernardino County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. Call them to get a name of an attorney who handles traffic cases. The first consultation is often low cost or free. You can explain your case and the lawyer will tell you if it is worth fighting in San Bernardino County.

The Superior Court also has a self-help center. Staff can answer questions about court procedures. They cannot give legal advice, but they can help you fill out forms and understand your options. Visit the court website at sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov for more resources and contact info in San Bernardino County.

California Courts Self-Help offers guides on traffic matters at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic. This site covers how to request traffic school, fight a ticket, and what happens if you lose your case. The information applies to all California counties including San Bernardino County.

California Traffic Laws

Traffic laws in California are found in the Vehicle Code. These statutes define violations, set penalties, and explain procedures for citations. All officers and courts in San Bernardino County follow these same state laws when issuing and processing traffic tickets.

Under Vehicle Code section 40500, an officer can issue a citation for any Vehicle Code violation. The citation is a written notice to appear in court or pay the fine. It is not an arrest unless you refuse to sign it or the offense is very serious.

Vehicle Code section 1803 requires courts to report convictions to the DMV within 10 days. This is how tickets end up on your driving record in San Bernardino County. Section 12810 explains how points are assigned. One point is added for most minor violations. Two points are added for serious violations like reckless driving or hit and run.

Traffic school is governed by Vehicle Code section 1808. This statute lists which violations qualify and how often you can attend. The DMV must mask the violation from public view once you complete an approved course. Your record still shows the ticket, but it is marked confidential so insurance companies cannot use it against you in San Bernardino County.

If you fail to appear in court or pay on time, Vehicle Code section 40508 allows the court to add penalties. The DMV may suspend your license under section 13365. You must resolve the ticket and pay any assessments before DMV will reinstate your driving privilege in San Bernardino County.

Cities in San Bernardino County

San Bernardino County covers a vast area with many cities. All traffic tickets issued in these cities are handled by the San Bernardino Superior Court. The same online portal and phone lines work for any city in the county. Check your citation for the specific court location assigned to your case.

Other cities in San Bernardino County include San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Victorville, Rialto, Chino Hills, Apple Valley, Redlands, and Yucaipa. All traffic citations from these cities are processed through the Superior Court of California County of San Bernardino.

Nearby Counties

If your ticket was issued near a county line, make sure you know which county has your case. Check the issuing agency on your citation. Traffic tickets must be handled in the county where the violation occurred.