Request an Extension
An extension is a postponement of the original due date on a
citation. Some violations are not eligible for an extension.
Extensions to Pay Bail
The Clerk's Office may give one 60-day extension to pay bail on eligible citations that do not require a mandatory court appearance. No
further extensions at the end of the 60-day period will be given.
There are three alternatives to request an extension to pay bail:
- On this site.
- By telephone.
- In person at the Court location marked on your citation.
Extensions to Complete Traffic School
The Clerk's Office may give one 30-day extension to complete traffic school if requested prior to the original traffic school due date.
There are three alternatives to request an extension to complete traffic school:
- On this site.
- By telephone.
- In person at the Court location marked on your citation.
Extensions for Trials
If you scheduled a trial by mail or in person in the Clerk's Office and need to change your trial date, you may do so only once.
To change your trial date, you must appear in person at the location indicated on your
citation between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Court holidays. Your request must be made at least 10 court days prior to the
currently scheduled trial date. There are no exceptions to the minimum 10-day requirement.
No Extensions for Arraignment Dates
Extensions cannot be given for scheduled arraignment dates. If you have scheduled a court date for an arraignment, that date
cannot be changed.
Extensions for Citations in Warrant Status
Some citations in warrant status may be eligible
for an extension
to pay the entire bail amount. This applies only to a limited number of
citations.
There are two alternatives to check if you are eligible for a warrant extension:
- By telephone.
- In person at the Court location marked on your citation.
Obtain Proof of Corrections: Mechanical, Registration, License and Insurance Violations
Mechanical Violations
Corrections for most mechanical violations can be inspected by the Sheriff, California Highway Patrol or other approved law enforcement agency. Violations concerning lights and brakes require a certificate of compliance that must be obtained at any certified light and brake station before arriving at the inspection station. Pollution Control Device violations must be certified by a smog check station licensed by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair.
There is a Sheriff inspection station at each Los Angeles Superior Court location where traffic matters are processed. The Sheriff will charge an inspection fee and, in addition, you must pay a transaction fee to the Court. Proof of correction by an authorized law enforcement agency is to include:
- Inspecting officer's signature and printed name;
- Badge number;
- Assigned inspection office location and phone number;
You must submit the proof of correction from the inspection agency to the Court listed on your citation.
Click here to view a list of Sheriff & CHP inspection stations.
Registration and License Violations
If you were cited with a registration violation and have proof of valid registration from the Department of Motor Vehicles, you may submit a copy of your registration with the appropriate bail to the Court. If you cannot provide proof for the vehicle cited, you will be required to pay the bail associated with that violation.
Some violations including sections 12500, 14601 and 23109 of the Vehicle Code may require a mandatory court appearance. Contact the Court for further information.
Insurance Violations
If you did not have proof of financial responsibility (e.g., insurance) at the time the ticket was issued, you may pay the full bail amount for this violation or schedule a court date for arraignment.
If you were insured at the time the citation was issued, but were unable to provide proof of financial responsibility (insurance) to the officer who cited you, you may either (1) submit proof, as described below, with the transaction fee or (2) bring your proof of financial responsibility to the Court and present to the clerk. The Court will dismiss the violation when it receives proof of financial responsibility and payment of the transaction fee.
Certain insurance violations are not correctable or dismissible by the clerk of the court and require payment of full bail or court appearance.
Acceptable proof of financial responsibility must include the following information:
- Name of the insurance carrier;
- Policy number;
- Effective dates of coverage with an effective date prior to the date the citation was issued;
- Name of person who received the citation and/or the vehicle listed on the citation.
If the proof does not show all of the information, the total bail amount must be paid; if not, a court appearance is required.
Sign Up for Court Ordered Traffic School
Traffic school attendance is a program that allows certain moving violators to receive instruction in driving and traffic safety. To be eligible for traffic school:
- The violation must be eligible for Traffic School;
- You have not attended traffic school on another citation issued within the last 18 months of your current citation;
- You must submit proof of correction for any mechanical, registration, driver's license or insurance violations. Citations that contain ONLY these types or violations are not eligible for traffic school.
To attend traffic school, both the citation bail amount and a non-refundable administrative fee must be paid before the court allows enrollment. Traffic school fees are non-refundable. The traffic school will charge you an additional fee to attend their program.
There are four alternatives for paying traffic school fees:
- On this site.
- By telephone.
- In person at the Court location marked on your citation.
- By mail.
Upon receipt of the traffic school fees, the Clerk's Office will provide you with a list of traffic school programs and a form that lists the due date. You will be given 64 days to complete a program. If you submit satisfactory proof of completion by your traffic school due date, the citation will be dismissed by the Court and reported to DMV as a Traffic School Dismissal. If you sign up for traffic school and fail to file the certificate of completion by the due date, the traffic school fee you paid will be deemed as bail and forfeited; DMV will be notified of the conviction.
Schedule an Arraignment Court Date
An arraignment is a hearing in which the Court advises you of your rights and informs you of the charges against you. You will be asked to enter a plea to the charges:
- If you enter a plea of not guilty, the judicial officer will usually set the bail amount that you are to post. After you post bail, the clerk will schedule a trial date.
- If you enter a plea of guilty or no contest, the judicial officer will sentence you.
An arraignment is not a trial where arguments for a case are heard.
Most arraignment dates are by appointment only. Court sessions are generally scheduled for 8:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. You may either make your own court appointment for your citation, or you can be represented by an attorney. Check your calendar before scheduling an arraignment date. Appointments for arraignments dates cannot be changed or canceled. If you were cited for mechanical, registration, driver's license or insurance violations, bring all proof of correction that you have with you to the arraignment. Be prepared to post bail for not guilty trials. If you plead "guilty," be prepared to pay a fine if it is imposed. If a fine is not paid the day it is imposed, there will be an additional fee of $30 added.
Most citations do not require a personal appearance and can be handled by telephone or by mail by paying or posting the bail amount and/or providing proof of correction.
There are three alternatives for scheduling an arraignment date:
- On this site.
- By telephone.
- In person at the Court location marked on your citation.
Night Court Arraignments
Unless otherwise stated, the Clerk's Office is open and the court is open for court appearances. Night Court Arraignment dates must be preset by calling Court location. Click here for the Court location telephone list.
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