Traffic & Parking Infractions
Many common traffic offenses (speeding, failure to stop, failure to have liability insurance, etc.) and all parking offenses are non-criminal violations of law as defined by stature and are called infractions.
Reading the Back of the Ticket
The Information on the back of the ticket explains your options. The important thing to remember is that you must respond within 30 days from the date the ticket was issued in person, and you have 33 days to respond if you received the Notice of Infraction by mail. Responding means paying the penalty amount or requesting a court date within the time allowed.
Types of Infraction Hearings
A Mitigation Hearing is requested if you admit you committed the violation but wish to explain the circumstances of the infraction. The judge will not dismiss the ticket but may adjust the penalty amount you pay depending on the explanation and your driving record.
A Contested Hearing is requested if you believe you did not commit the violation or have a valid defense. Unless you request that the officer be subpoenaed, the judge will read the officer’s sworn statement. You may testify, present evidence, and call witnesses on your behalf. Please advise the clerk when scheduling if you want the officer or radar technician to be present at the hearing.
A Contested hearing may result in the penalty staying the same, being reduced, or the ticket being dismissed. If a committed finding is made regarding the offense, it will appear on your driving record. At your own expense, you may have an attorney appear to represent you at your hearing. A public defender is not provided for traffic and parking infraction cases.
Court Dates
We are unable to accept court date requests over the phone. You must either sign the back of your ticket and mail your request to the court or appear in person to make your request. Our customer service counter is located on the 8th floor of the County-City Building, room 841. Mitigation and Contested hearings without the officer are scheduled Monday – Friday in the afternoon via Zoom (Virtual Hearing). Contested hearings with the officer present are scheduled in the afternoon on Thursdays via Zoom (Virtual Hearing). Please be sure to provide your current mailing address on the back of your ticket request or provide any updated information to the customer service counter when scheduling your hearing.
Failure to Respond/Appear/Pay
If you fail to respond within 30 days or 33 days, if mailed, fail to appear at a scheduled hearing, or fail to pay the penalty, a late fee will be added to the original penalty amount, and you are declared to have committed the offense. These offenses will appear on your driving record, and your driver’s license will be suspended. Parking tickets may result in your inability to renew your vehicle registration.