Find Yolo County Traffic Citations
Traffic citations in Yolo County are processed by the Superior Court of California, County of Yolo. Law enforcement agencies including city police, county sheriff, UC Davis police, and the California Highway Patrol file tickets with the court. The traffic division handles violations from Woodland, Davis, West Sacramento, and other areas throughout the county. Online payment, phone services, and in-person options let you manage your citation. Traffic school, trial requests, extensions, and payment plans are available. You can resolve most tickets without visiting the courthouse if you use the online and phone services provided by Yolo County Superior Court.
Yolo County Traffic Quick Facts
Yolo Superior Court Traffic Division
The Yolo County Superior Court Traffic Division processes all moving violations issued within the county. The main office is located in Woodland at the county courthouse. Call (530) 406-6702 during business hours to reach the traffic division. Staff can answer questions about your citation, explain procedures, and provide information about deadlines and requirements for handling your Yolo County traffic ticket.
Visit the traffic division website at yolo.courts.ca.gov/divisions/traffic for forms, instructions, and detailed information about traffic court procedures. The site explains traffic school eligibility, trial options, payment methods, and fine reduction programs. You can download forms and learn about local policies specific to Yolo County traffic cases.
Court hours are Monday through Friday during standard business hours. The traffic window may close for lunch in the middle of the day. Check the website for current hours before visiting. Many tasks can be completed online or by mail instead of going to the courthouse in person. This lets you handle your Yolo County traffic citation on your own schedule without taking time off work or school.
How to Pay Online
Yolo County uses the nCourt payment system for online and phone payments. Access it through the court website or visit the nCourt landing page directly. You need your citation number from the ticket. Enter it to pull up your case information and payment options. The system accepts credit cards and debit cards. Processing fees apply to card transactions.
Paying your ticket online is fast and convenient. The payment posts to your account immediately in most cases. You get a confirmation number and receipt. Save these for your records. If you paid in full and do not owe anything else, the case closes. The conviction goes on your DMV record automatically when you pay the bail amount for your Yolo County traffic violation.
You can also pay by mail. Send a check or money order to the address on your courtesy notice. Write your citation number on the payment. Mail 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 Yolo County courthouse.
Traffic School Information
Traffic school lets you mask one point from insurance companies. The conviction still appears on your DMV record. Insurance companies cannot see the masked point. This prevents rate increases even though the violation remains on your record. You must request traffic school and the court must approve you before enrolling in a course.
Yolo County charges $76 for the traffic school administrative fee. This is in addition to the fine amount on your citation. You pay both when you enroll. 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 for another ticket in California.
Enroll in a court-approved traffic school after the court approves your request. Most schools operate online. Complete the course before your deadline. The school reports completion to the court automatically. Make sure you get confirmation that the court received your completion certificate. The point stays on your DMV record but gets hidden from insurance companies for three years after your Yolo County traffic conviction.
Contesting Your Citation
You have the right to fight your traffic ticket. Yolo County offers trial by written declaration and in-person court trials. Written declarations let you contest the ticket on paper without going to court. Fill out forms explaining why you are not guilty. The officer submits their statement. A judge reviews both versions and makes a ruling based on the written evidence submitted to the court.
If you lose the written trial, you can request a trial de novo. This is an in-person trial that gives you a second chance to fight the ticket. You appear at the courthouse on a date set by the judge. You present your case and can question the officer if they appear. The judge decides based on the evidence and testimony presented during the trial in Yolo County court.
Many drivers choose written declarations first. You do not miss work. You do not 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 if the judge rules in your favor. If you lose, you still get the in-person trial option before the case is final.
Fix-it tickets are for correctable violations like broken lights or expired registration. Get the problem fixed. Have a law enforcement officer or authorized person sign your correction form. Submit it to the Yolo County court with the $25 proof of correction fee. The violation does not go on your DMV record if you complete the process in time. This saves you money on insurance compared to a regular conviction.
Extensions and Payment Plans
If you cannot pay by the due date, request an extension or payment plan from Yolo County court. Extensions give you more time to handle the ticket. Payment plans let you spread the cost over several months. Some drivers qualify for reduced fines based on financial hardship. You need to request these options before your deadline passes to avoid penalties.
Contact the court to ask about extensions or payment plans. Explain your situation. Provide any documentation they request. The court reviews your request and decides whether to approve it. If approved, follow the new deadlines and payment schedule exactly. Missing payments on a payment plan can result in the full balance becoming due immediately plus additional fees and penalties in Yolo County.
Consequences of Ignoring Tickets
Failing to respond to your traffic citation creates serious problems. The Yolo County court adds fees to your balance. A civil assessment of $100 or more gets tacked on. They may charge you with failure to appear, which is a misdemeanor that goes on your criminal record. The DMV suspends your driver license. Vehicle registration renewal is blocked until you clear the court case.
Driving with a suspended license is a crime. If police stop you while suspended, you face additional criminal charges. Penalties increase with each violation. Getting your license back requires paying all fines, clearing the Yolo County court case, and paying DMV reinstatement fees. The total cost is much higher than if you had handled the original ticket on time before the penalties accumulated.
If you already missed your deadline, contact the court immediately. 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 additional criminal charges and higher costs even if you missed the original due date for your Yolo County traffic citation.
Traffic Convictions and Your Record
Yolo 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 from the conviction date. DUI and serious offenses remain for ten years. Points accumulate based on the type of violation. One point for most infractions. Two points for more serious violations.
Too many points lead to license suspension by the DMV. Four points in 12 months, six points in 24 months, or eight points in 36 months trigger DMV action. They send a warning letter first. If you accumulate more points, they suspend your license. Suspensions last for months and require reinstatement fees. Keeping your record clean helps you avoid these problems and keeps your insurance rates lower.
Insurance companies check your DMV record when they set your rates. More violations mean higher premiums. 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 increases that last until the violations fall off your Yolo County driving record.
Cities in Yolo County
Yolo County includes four incorporated cities and several unincorporated areas. All traffic citations go through the county Superior Court no matter which agency issued the ticket. City police, county sheriff, UC Davis police, and highway patrol all file citations with the same court system in Yolo County.
The main cities are Woodland, Davis, West Sacramento, and Winters. Each has its own police department. Unincorporated areas are patrolled by county sheriff's deputies. UC Davis has its own police force that issues citations on and near campus. All follow Yolo County court procedures regardless of who wrote the ticket or where it was issued within the county.
Legal Resources and Assistance
You do not need a lawyer for most traffic tickets. The court system is designed for people to represent themselves. The Yolo County court website has guides and forms. California Courts operates a statewide self-help center at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic with information about traffic citations. These free resources explain your rights and walk through each step.
Some cases benefit from legal advice. Multiple tickets, license suspension threats, or misdemeanor charges are situations where a lawyer might help. The Yolo County Bar Association can refer you to traffic attorneys. Some lawyers 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.
Nearby Counties
Yolo County borders several other counties. Make sure your ticket was issued in Yolo County before using these procedures. Each county runs its own court system. A ticket from Sacramento County uses different procedures than Yolo County. Check your citation to confirm which court has jurisdiction. Neighboring counties include: