Solano County Traffic Records
Traffic tickets in Solano County go through the Superior Court of California, County of Solano. Law enforcement agencies throughout the county issue citations for moving violations, equipment problems, and other traffic offenses. The court operates two main locations in Fairfield and Vallejo that handle traffic cases. You can manage your citation online, by phone, by mail, or in person. Payment portals, traffic school enrollment, extension requests, and other services are available without visiting the courthouse. The Solano County court system processes thousands of traffic violations each year from Highway 80, local roads, and city streets across the county.
Solano County Traffic Quick Facts
Online Payment Portal
Solano County uses a dedicated payment website for traffic citations. Go to solanocourtpayments.com to access the system. You need your citation number from the ticket. Enter it to pull up your case details and payment options.
The payment portal accepts credit cards and debit cards. You can pay your full bail amount to close the case. Partial payments might be allowed if you have a payment plan already set up with the court. Processing fees apply when you use a card. Bank account payments have lower fees in most cases. The system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for your convenience.
Paying your ticket means you plead guilty to the violation. The conviction goes on your DMV record. Points get added to your license based on the type of offense. Insurance companies will see this conviction. Your rates might go up as a result. Think about traffic school or contesting the ticket before you decide to pay the fine in Solano County.
Solano Superior Court Traffic Division
The Traffic Court Division operates from two locations in Solano County. The Fairfield office at 600 Union Avenue handles citations issued in Fairfield, Suisun City, and surrounding areas. The Vallejo office at 321 Tuolumne Street handles citations issued in Vallejo, Benicia, and nearby communities. Call (707) 207-7360 for Fairfield or (707) 561-7860 for Vallejo to reach the traffic division during business hours.
Court staff can answer questions about your citation, explain procedures, and provide forms. They cannot give legal advice, but they can tell you what steps to take for your situation. Hours are Monday through Friday, typically from morning until late afternoon with a lunch break. Check the court website for current hours before visiting in person to avoid wasted trips to the Solano County courthouse.
The Solano County Superior Court traffic division website provides comprehensive information about handling traffic violations throughout the county. From understanding your citation to learning about available options, the site covers every aspect of the traffic case process. Visit solano.courts.ca.gov traffic court for detailed guidance on resolving traffic tickets in Solano County.
Traffic school administrative fees in Solano County are $52. This is in addition to the fine amount. You must be eligible for traffic school and the court must approve your request. Not all violations qualify. The court website lists which violations are eligible. Complete an approved course before your deadline. The school reports completion to the court automatically in most cases.
How to Handle Your Ticket
You get several options when you receive a traffic citation in Solano County. Pay the fine if you want to plead guilty and close the case. Request traffic school if you are eligible and want to hide the point from insurance. Ask for a trial if you think the ticket is wrong. Request an extension if you need more time to decide. Each option has different requirements and deadlines that you must follow.
Extensions give you more time to handle your ticket. Solano County may grant extensions based on your circumstances. You need to request the extension before your current due date passes. If you wait too long, the court might deny your request. Late responses trigger penalties and fees that add to your total balance, so acting on time saves you money.
Trial by written declaration is popular in Solano County. You submit your case on paper without going to court. Fill out the forms explaining why you are not guilty. The officer submits their statement. A judge reviews both sides and makes a decision. If you lose, you can still request an in-person trial. This gives you two chances to fight the ticket without missing work or other obligations during court hours.
In-person trials require you to appear at the courthouse on a specific date. You present your case to a judge. The officer must show up too. If the officer does not appear, the judge might dismiss the ticket. If the officer does appear, you get to cross-examine them and present evidence. The judge decides whether you are guilty based on the evidence and testimony presented in Solano County court.
Consequences of Ignoring Tickets
Ignoring your traffic citation leads to serious problems. The Solano County court adds a civil assessment fee to your balance. This can be $100 or more depending on the violation. They may also charge you with failure to appear, which is a misdemeanor. That goes on your criminal record. Your license gets suspended. The DMV will not renew your registration. You could get arrested.
Once your license is suspended, driving becomes illegal. If police catch you driving on a suspended license, that is another criminal charge. Penalties get worse with each violation. Getting your license back requires paying all fines, clearing the court case, and paying DMV reinstatement fees. The total cost is much higher than if you had handled the original ticket on time in Solano County.
If you missed your deadline, contact the court right away. Explain what happened. Ask about your options. The court might let you set up a payment plan or work out another solution. Avoiding the problem makes it worse. Taking action now can prevent license suspension and additional criminal charges even if you already missed the original due date for your Solano County traffic citation.
Your Driving Record
Solano County reports all traffic convictions to the California DMV. The DMV adds the conviction to your permanent driving record. Most violations stay on your record for three years. DUI and other serious offenses remain for ten years. Points accumulate based on violation type. Too many points lead to license suspension by the DMV regardless of what the court does.
Insurance companies check your DMV record when they set your rates. More violations mean higher rates. Some companies drop drivers who have too many tickets. This forces you to find high-risk insurance that costs much more. One ticket can raise your rates for three years. Multiple tickets create even bigger rate increases that last until the violations fall off your record.
Traffic school hides one point from insurance companies but not from the DMV itself or the courts. The DMV still has the full record. Insurance companies cannot see the masked point. This saves you money because they do not raise your rates for that violation. Completing traffic school for a Solano County ticket is often worth the $52 administrative fee plus the course cost because it prevents insurance rate increases for three years.
Correctable Violations
Some tickets are for problems you can fix. Broken lights, expired registration, missing insurance proof, and similar issues fall in this category. Solano County calls these correctable violations or fix-it tickets. Get the problem fixed. Have a police officer, highway patrol officer, or other authorized person sign the correction form. Submit proof to the court along with the processing fee.
The proof of correction fee is $25 in California. This is much less than the fine for a regular conviction. The violation does not go on your DMV record if you get it corrected in time. Insurance companies never see it. This saves you money compared to paying the full fine and getting a conviction on your record in Solano County.
Cities in Solano County
Solano County includes seven incorporated cities and several unincorporated areas. All traffic citations go through the county Superior Court regardless of which city police department or sheriff's deputy issued the ticket. The main cities are Vallejo, Fairfield, Vacaville, Suisun City, Benicia, Dixon, and Rio Vista. Each has its own police force or contracts with the county sheriff. Travis Air Force Base also generates traffic citations that go through the Solano County court system.
The city where you got your ticket determines which courthouse handles your case. Fairfield court serves the western part of the county. Vallejo court serves the eastern part. Your citation paperwork shows which location to contact. All locations follow the same procedures and use the same payment system for traffic matters in Solano County.
Resources and Assistance
You do not need a lawyer for most traffic tickets in Solano County. The process is designed for self-representation. Court websites have forms and instructions. California Courts operates a statewide self-help center at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic with guides for handling traffic citations. These free resources explain your rights and walk you through each step from start to finish.
Some cases benefit from legal advice. Multiple tickets, license suspension threats, or misdemeanor charges are situations where a lawyer might help. The Solano County Bar Association can refer you to traffic attorneys. Some offer free consultations. Legal aid groups assist low-income residents with serious traffic matters that could affect their ability to work or support their family. Consider getting help if your situation is complex or the consequences are serious.
Nearby Counties
Solano County borders several other counties. Make sure your ticket was issued in Solano County before using these procedures. Each county runs its own court system with different rules and websites. Check your citation paperwork to confirm which county court has jurisdiction over your case. Neighboring counties include: