Sonoma County Traffic Violations
The Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma handles traffic citations issued throughout the county. Police departments, sheriff's deputies, and the California Highway Patrol file tickets with the court system. Citations come from Highway 101, local roads, and city streets across Sonoma County. The court provides online payment, phone services, and in-person options for handling your ticket. Traffic school, extensions, payment plans, and trial requests are available through the court's traffic division. You can resolve most violations without visiting the courthouse in person if you use the online and phone services offered by Sonoma County.
Sonoma County Traffic Quick Facts
Traffic Division Overview
Sonoma County Superior Court operates a traffic division that processes all moving violations in the county. The main office is located in Santa Rosa. Call (707) 521-6680 to reach the traffic division during business hours. Staff can answer questions about procedures, deadlines, and requirements. They cannot give legal advice but can explain what steps you need to take for your citation.
The traffic division website at sonoma.courts.ca.gov/divisions/traffic has forms, fee schedules, and instructions for handling citations. You can learn about traffic school eligibility, trial procedures, payment options, and fine reduction programs. The site includes information specific to Sonoma County procedures and local court policies that affect how you handle your traffic ticket.
Court hours are Monday through Friday during standard business hours. The traffic window might close for lunch. Check the website for current hours before visiting. Many services can be handled online or by mail instead of coming to the courthouse in person. This saves time and lets you manage your Sonoma County traffic citation on your own schedule without taking time off work.
Paying Traffic Tickets
Pay your Sonoma County traffic ticket online using the nCourt payment system. The court uses this third-party processor for online and phone payments. Access it through the court website or go directly to the nCourt portal. You need your citation number to look up your case. Credit cards and debit cards are accepted. Processing fees apply to card transactions.
You can also mail a check or money order to the address shown on your courtesy notice. Write your citation number on the payment. Send it before your due date to avoid late fees. In-person payments are accepted at the clerk's office during business hours. Bring your citation or courtesy notice with you to speed up the process at the Sonoma County courthouse.
Paying the fine is the same as pleading guilty. The conviction goes on your DMV record automatically. Points may be added to your license. Insurance companies will see the conviction when they review your driving history. Your rates might increase. Consider traffic school or contesting the ticket before you decide to pay the bail amount for your Sonoma County citation.
If you cannot afford to pay by the due date, request an extension or payment plan. Sonoma County offers these options in some situations. You need to ask before your deadline passes. Late requests might be denied. Extensions give you more time to pay. Payment plans let you spread the cost over several months. Some drivers qualify for reduced fines based on financial hardship.
Traffic School Option
Traffic school lets you hide one point from insurance companies. The conviction still goes on your DMV record. Insurance companies cannot see the point when they check your file. This prevents rate increases even though the violation stays on your record. You must be eligible and the court must approve your request before you enroll in a traffic school course.
Not all violations qualify for traffic school. The court website lists eligible and ineligible violations. You cannot use traffic school if you already used it within the past 18 months. Commercial drivers have different rules. Check your eligibility before requesting traffic school for your Sonoma County ticket to avoid wasting time and money on a course the court will not accept.
Once approved, enroll in a court-approved traffic school. Complete the course before your deadline. Most schools operate online so you can take the course at your own pace. The school reports completion to the court automatically. Make sure you get confirmation that the court received your completion certificate. Follow up if you do not hear anything within a week or two after finishing the course.
Fighting Your Ticket
You can contest your citation if you think it is wrong. Sonoma County offers trial by written declaration and in-person court trials. Written declarations let you submit your case on paper. Fill out forms explaining why the ticket should be dismissed. The officer submits their version. A judge reviews both statements and makes a ruling without anyone appearing in court.
If you lose the written trial, you can request an in-person trial. This gives you a second chance to fight the ticket. In-person trials require you to appear at the courthouse on a date set by the judge. You present your case and can cross-examine the officer if they show up. The judge decides based on the evidence and testimony presented during the trial in Sonoma County court.
Many people choose written declarations because they work around your schedule. You do not miss work or other commitments. You do not have to speak in front of a judge. You just fill out forms and mail them to the court. The process takes longer than paying the fine, but it gives you a chance to avoid the conviction and points on your record if the judge rules in your favor.
Fix-it tickets are for correctable violations. Get the problem fixed. Have a police officer or authorized person sign the correction form. Submit proof to the Sonoma County court with the $25 processing fee. The violation does not go on your record if you complete the process in time. This saves you money compared to paying the full fine and getting a conviction that raises your insurance rates.
Missing Your Deadline
Ignoring your traffic citation creates serious problems. The court adds fees to your balance. A civil assessment of $100 or more gets tacked on. They might charge you with failure to appear, which is a misdemeanor. That goes on your criminal record. Your driver license gets suspended by the DMV. Registration renewal is blocked until you clear the court case.
Driving on a suspended license is a criminal offense in California. If police stop you while your license is suspended, you face additional charges. Penalties get worse with each violation. Getting your license back requires paying all fines, clearing the Sonoma County court case, and paying DMV reinstatement fees. The total cost is much higher than handling the original ticket on time.
Your Driving Record
Sonoma County reports traffic convictions to the California DMV. The DMV adds each conviction to your driving record. Most stay on your record for three years from the conviction date. DUI and serious offenses remain for ten years. Points accumulate based on the violation type. One point for most infractions. Two points for more serious violations or reckless driving.
Get your driving record from the DMV to see what is on file. It costs $2 online or $5 by mail. You need a DMV account to request it online. The record shows all convictions, accidents, and points. Insurance companies use this to set your rates. Courts check it when deciding penalties for new violations. Employers might review it if you drive for work.
Too many points lead to license suspension. Four points in 12 months, six points in 24 months, or eight points in 36 months trigger action by the DMV. They send a warning letter first. If you get more points, they suspend your license. Suspensions last for months and require reinstatement fees to get your license back. Keeping your record clean avoids these problems and keeps your insurance rates lower.
Cities in Sonoma County
Sonoma County includes nine incorporated cities and numerous unincorporated areas. All traffic citations go through the county Superior Court no matter which city issued the ticket. City police, county sheriff, and highway patrol all file citations with the same court system. The process is the same throughout Sonoma County regardless of where you got your ticket.
Major cities include Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Sebastopol, Sonoma, Windsor, Healdsburg, and Cloverdale. Each has its own police department or contracts with the county sheriff. Unincorporated areas are patrolled by sheriff's deputies. All citations follow Sonoma County court procedures no matter who wrote the ticket or where it was issued within the county boundaries.
Help and Resources
Most traffic tickets do not require a lawyer. The court system is designed for self-representation. Sonoma County court website has guides and forms. California Courts operates a statewide self-help site at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic with detailed traffic citation information. These free resources explain your rights and walk through each step of the process.
Some situations benefit from legal advice. Multiple tickets, license suspension threats, or misdemeanor charges are cases where a lawyer might help. The Sonoma County Bar Association can refer you to traffic attorneys. Some offer free consultations. Legal aid organizations assist low-income residents with serious traffic matters. Consider getting help if your situation is complex or the consequences could affect your ability to work or support your family.
Nearby Counties
Sonoma County borders several other counties. Make sure you know which county issued your ticket. Each county runs its own court system. A ticket from Marin County uses different procedures than Sonoma County. Check your citation to see which court has jurisdiction. Neighboring counties include: