| Traffic court handles all adult traffic citations that were issued in Del Norte County. The Traffic division will handle all trial matters relating to traffic infractions.
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Court Clerk Information
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| Traffic Division: |
450 H Street, Room 209
Crescent City, CA 95531
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| Telephone Number: |
| (707) 464-8115
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| Fax Number: |
| (707) 465-4005
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| Court Clerk's Office Hours: |
| 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday
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Courtesy Notice
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| After receiving a traffic citation, the court will mail a courtesy notice to the address on your citation. If you do not receive a courtesy notice, you must still appear at the courthouse or settle your case by mail. You must contact the court if your address is incorrect.
The courtesy notice will supply the information about how to take care of your situation. If you do not understand your options, you may come in person to the clerk's office or correspond by mail prior to your appearance date. The courtesy notice will state whether your situation requires a mandatory appearance.
Courtesy notices are not processed immediately after you receive the citation. It may take up to two (2) weeks prior to due date for processing.
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Clearing Correctable Violations
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| Either proof of correction and the $25 dismissal fee or proof of correction and bail is required on mechanical, registration and license violations.
Proof of correction can be obtained by having an authorized representative of the issuing police agency complete the Certificate of Correction located on the reverse of the courtesy notice or citation. Registration and/or driver's license violations may be certified by a Department of Motor Vehicles clerk. Submit the proof of correction and any required fee to the court by the due date.
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Clearing Non-Correctable
Violations
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| The courtesy notice mailed to your home will indicate the options for your situation. These options may include paying your traffic ticket, attending traffic school, walking in and appearing in court, mandatory appearance, requesting (by mail or in person) a court appearance, and/or requesting a court trail by declaration (written statement). The following sections will further explain these options, in the order given above.
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How to Take Care of Your Fine
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| Pay in Person: Appear in person at the above address and pay with cash, check, or money order.
Pay Online: Have your citation number ready and click here to pay fine with a Discover, Visa or Mastercard. |
| Pay by Mail: Write your docket or citation number on your check or money order, as well as any correspondence you include, and mail your payment to the following address:
Superior Court of Del Norte County
450 H Street, rm 209
Crescent City, CA 95531
If you are paying and attending traffic school, add $52 to the total bail and you will have 60 days to complete the class.
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Traffic School
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To be eligible for the Traffic School Dismissal Program, you must meet certain requirements. You may qualify if:
- The citation is for a moving violation. If the moving violation is speeding, then you must have been ticketed for less than or up to 25 miles per hour over the limit. If you were ticketed for more than 25 miles over the speed limit and you still want to attend traffic school, you must request this in writing to the judge;
- You have not attended traffic school in the last 18 months from your first violation date to the most recent violation date;
- You were not cited for a violation of Vehicle Code section 22406.5 (tank vehicles);
- You were not cited for a violation related to alcohol use or possession, or drug use or possession;
- You were not cited for a violation on which you failed to appear under Vehicle Code section 40508(a) unless the failure-to-appear charge has been adjudicated and any fine imposed has been paid;
- You were not cited for a violation on which you have failed to appear under Penal Code section 1214.1 unless the civil monetary assessment has been paid.
- You live in California.
- You did not commit a serious traffic violation in a commercial vehicle.
To request traffic school, pay the non-refundable traffic school fee of $52 plus bail by the due date either in person or by mail to the Superior Court. Your case will be extended 60 days for the completion of school and the receipt of the certificate of completion.
It is your responsibility to make sure the Court receives the proof of completion.
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Walk-In Appearance Information
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| You can plead not guilty by appearing in court and requesting a formal trial to be held at a later date where the officer will be present.
To appear in court regarding your citation, you must do so on or before the appearance date indicated on your citation. Check your courtesy notice for day, time, and location of appearance. Call the court clerk's office if you have any questions about whether an appearance is required, or when and where to appear.
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Mandatory Appearance
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| Your courtesy notice will state if you are required to appear in court. You must do so on or before your due date. Make sure to call the Court to schedule an appearance date. Check in at the Traffic division clerk's office at least 30 minutes prior to the court session you are required to attend.
Extensions are not allowed on citations that require a mandatory court appearance. If you fail to appear in court as you have promised you may be subject to an additional "Failure to Appear" charge. This is a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine, or jail, or both. The Department of Motor Vehicles may withhold the issuance or renewal of your driver's license, and may revoke or suspend your driving privilege.
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Requesting a Trial in Person
or by Mail
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| You may schedule a future court trial on an infraction by mail or by appearing in person, at the Traffic division clerk's office by your due date. Bail is required for court trials. You must bring in your courtesy notice or information containing your Case Number, Docket Number or any DMV correspondence.
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Requesting a Trial by Declaration
(Written Statement)
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According to Local Court Rule 18.8, the defendant may elect to have a trial by declaration of any charged infraction. You have the option to conduct some correspondence with the clerk and court by mail, but you must appear in court should the infraction require a mandatory appearance. This Trial by Declaration should be requested on or before the appearance date shown on your ticket. Your case will be decided without requiring that you appear in court. You must post full bail prior to the trial date, and enter a plea of not guilty.
The Judicial Council forms that are needed can be obtained in person at the clerk's office or by requesting by phone or mail to receive the forms by mail. The forms may also be photocopied from the county Law Library or downloaded from the Judicial Council website.
- TR200 - - Instructions for Defendant - Traffic Infraction
- TR205 - - Request for Trial by Written Declaration - Traffic
- TR220 - - Request for New Trial (Trial de Novo) - Traffic Form Available Here
- Local Form - - Not Guilty Plea Form
- Local Form - - Testimony by Mail Form
Send in the completed forms and any witness statements or exhibits with the full amount owed on your ticket. You will be notified by mail of the judge's decision.
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Extensions
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One 30-day extension may be obtained by mail, by phone or in person on moving violations. Extensions are not allowed once the due date has passed. Extensions are not allowed on citations that require a mandatory court appearance. No court dates are given by phone.
Please contact the Court to discuss an extension on your citation.
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Enhanced Collections
Failure to pay the amount due to the court as promised or in a timely manner may resulf in a hold/suspension being placed on your Driver's License pursuant to VC 40509.5B. Additionally, court case may be referred to a collection agency and a Civil Assessment bee of up to $300.00 will also be added to your outstanding fine.
If your case has been referred to GC Services for further collections, you may contact them at https://courtpay.gcserv.com or 1-800-727-5848. Please have your name and case number available.
If you believe you have good cause for failing to pay your fine, you may refer to the CIVIL ASSESSMENT- GOOD CAUSE STATEMENT.
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