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The division's jurisdiction; the virtual counter; financial hardship and ability to pay; the citation and its promise to appear; courtesy notices and the case lookup - the defendant's duty to follow up when no notice arrives, collection actions; mandatory appearances; paying the fine (online, by phone or by mail; not online or by phone when a proof of correction applies); a one-time 60-day extension when the citation is not past due, otherwise an appearance before the judge or commissioner; contesting - setting a court date for arraignment or a trial by written declaration (TR-200, TR-205) with the full amount due; traffic school eligibility, the $52 administrative fee plus bail, schools licensed by the DMV; commercial driver licenses; proof of correction and proof of insurance (to the Traffic Clerk's Office); attire; failure to appear - collections, ability to pay, and the Ex Parte Motion to Vacate Conviction (infraction cases) filed no later than 20 days after the original trial date; parking citations (not handled by the court); juvenile tickets (in person or by mail); the uniform bail schedule; questions by the online form; Rule 4.105 (bail deposits by infraction defendants before a first appearance only in the cases it names) and the committees' proposed amendment of rule 4.105(d) (a link to statewide traffic self-help); the Clerk's Office hours (temporary hours through October 30, 2026) and the Stockton, Manteca, and Lodi addresses.
California > Third Appellate District > San Joaquin County > Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin
Traffic Welcome to the San Joaquin County Superior Court’s Traffic Division. This Division has jurisdiction over Vehicle Code violations, local municipal code ordinances, some minor misdemeanors, infractions, Fish & Game, and animal codes. Traffic court An infraction is a violation of, or failure to comply with, certain provisions of the vehicle code, local ordinances, or other law or statute. Infractions are not punishable by imprisonment and most only require the payment of a fine (plus assessments and fees) to satisfy the notice to appear. You may not be sentenced to alternate jail time on an infraction and cannot have a trial by jury. Some vehicle code misdemeanors may also be processed in the traffic department (for example, driving without a valid license or driving on a suspended license). Virtual Counter Our virtual counter is now available and will connect you with a court clerk using video conference. Getting started is easy, just click the link below to enter the virtual lobby. A clerk will bring you into a private session as soon as they are available. Log in to the Virtual Counter Financial hardship If you cannot pay the full amount of a fine for an infraction offense (including most traffic tickets), you may ask the Court to reduce the amount you owe based on your ability to pay. Financial hardship and ability to pay information. Legal advice Superior Court staff are not authorized by law to give legal advice. If you are seeking legal advice, consider consulting a licensed attorney. You may also visit the San Joaquin County Law Library or the Superior Court’s Self-Help Center for additional information and forms. Traffic self-help information (California Courts) What your citation includes Traffic infractions are enforced by law enforcement through traffic tickets (citations). It is important to read the information on the front and back of the citation. The front of the citation includes: Citation number Date and time of the citation Violation(s) for which you were cited Place and time by which you promised to appear Courtesy notice and case lookup The court may generate and mail a reminder notice (courtesy notice) to the address listed on the citation. If your address is different from the one listed on the citation, you may not receive a notice. If you do not receive a notice, you may search the case management system to verify whether the court has received your citation from the issuing agency. How to use the eCourt system. Some citations require a mandatory court appearance. The date and time of your hearing will be on your notice, and you must personally appear in court. If you do not receive a notice, it is your responsibility to follow up with the court for the fine amount, hearing date, and payment due date. If you do not take care of your traffic citation in a timely manner, the court may authorize collection actions on the bail amount. More traffic citation help Paying the fine Pay Here To pay by phone, call (209) 992-5692 or use the virtual counter. To pay by mail, submit a check or money order (do not send cash) payable to the Superior Court. You may also pay using a credit card by completing the Authorization for Credit Card Use form on the back of your reminder notice. There is no additional processing fee for this option. If your fine includes the option to provide proof of correction for a reduced fine, you cannot pay for your citation online or by phone. Extensions If your citation is not past due, you may request a one-time 60-day extension on your due date by telephone, in person, or by mail. If your citation is past due, you must appear before the Judge or Commissioner for any further continuance. To contest your citation or request a court date If you wish to contest your citation, you must do one of the following: Set a court date. You do not need to post bail for this option. An arraignment is where you are advised of your rights and the charges against you and you enter a plea. The citing officer will not be there. If you plead not guilty, a trial date will then be set. You can set a court date for arraignment by contacting the court clerk at the number listed on the branch court home page or by coming in person to the traffic window of that court. Request a trial by written declaration. This option allows you to plead not guilty and contest your citation without appearing in court. This option is only available for Vehicle Code infractions or local ordinances adopted pursuant to the Vehicle Code. You must pay the full “Amount Due.” You may mail the payment with your request for a trial by written declaration (TR-200, TR-205), pay in person. If you are found guilty, traffic school is at the discretion of the judicial officer. Traffic school You may be eligible to attend traffic school if you meet the following requirements: You have a valid California Driver’s License. You cannot be assigned to, nor have attended, traffic school in the last 18 months. If charged with speeding, the speed must not have exceeded 100 m.p.h. If charged with speeding, the speed must not have exceeded 25 m.p.h. over the posted speed limit. You must be charged with an infraction, not a misdemeanor. The section(s) cannot require a mandatory appearance. If you hold a commercial driver’s license, you were not driving a commercial vehicle. Certain serious vehicle code violations are not eligible for traffic school. If you meet these requirements and wish to attend traffic school, you will be required to pay an administrative fee of $52 to the court, plus the amount of bail indicated on your courtesy notice. A separate fee is collected directly by the traffic school you choose. If you are eligible and decide not to attend traffic school, your automobile insurance may be adversely affected. To find a classroom traffic school near you or an online traffic school, visit the California DMV website. The traffic schools listed on the site are licensed and regulated by the DMV. The court assumes no liability when defendants choose this option and, if traffic school is not completed, all fines and fees posted with the court will be forfeited. Commercial Driver License California courts permit commercial license holders to attend traffic violator school if they receive a citation while driving a non-commercial vehicle. The conviction and point may still appear on your driver record, even if you successfully complete traffic school. If you are eligible and complete traffic school, you may contact the DMV to request the violation point be removed from the conviction. Call the DMV Mandatory Actions department at (916) 657-6525. Do not contact the court, as the court cannot contact DMV on your behalf or remove the point from your driving record. Traffic violations, proof of correction, and proof of insurance Some violations are dismissed upon proof of correction with payment of an administrative fee. Please check your courtesy notice. Other violations may require additional posting of bail. Your courtesy notice will inform you what is required in your case. If your citation requires proof of correction, you must have your vehicle inspected and the citation or the back of your courtesy notice signed by any law enforcement agency or DMV office. Note: Proof of insurance cannot be signed off by law enforcement or the DMV. You must provide proof you were insured at the time of your violation to the Traffic Clerk’s Office. If you did not have insurance at the time of your violation, you may still be eligible for a partial fine reduction by submitting proof you obtained insurance after the fact. Mandatory appearance If your citation requires a mandatory appearance, you must appear on the date and time, and in the department, indicated on your courtesy notice. Court locations are listed on the Home Page. You must wear proper attire when appearing in court. No tank tops, shorts, or bare feet are allowed. Failure to appear or missed my court date If you fail to appear as promised when you signed the traffic citation, your fine may be sent to a collection agency. If your fine is sent to a collection agency, you may still appear in court, apply for an Ability to Pay determination, or contact the collection agency to set up a payment plan. Call the clerk’s office at (209) 992-5692 for assistance. If you failed to appear for your scheduled in-person or Zoom court trial, you may file an Ex Parte Motion to Vacate Conviction (infraction cases only). You can find this form on the Local Forms page. It must be filed with the court no later than 20 days after the original trial date. Parking citations The San Joaquin County Superior Court does not handle parking tickets. Refer to the instructions on the reverse side of your parking ticket for information regarding payment, failure to respond, and contesting the ticket. Do not call the court. You must contact the agency listed on your parking ticket for assistance. Juvenile Juvenile tickets cannot be paid over the phone or online. Juveniles must appear in person or send payment via U.S. mail. Do not send cash through the mail. Call (209) 992-5698 for information regarding juvenile citations. Uniform bail schedule Judicial Council of California Uniform Bail Schedule (PDF) Additional questions If you require additional information, fill out the online form and include: Name as it appears on your license Date of birth Citation or court case number Driver’s license number Please allow up to three business days for a response. Amended Rule 4.105 Rule 4.105 prohibits courts from requiring infraction defendants to deposit bail in order to appear at either arraignment or trial unless a specified exception applies. Under the rule, courts may only require infraction defendants to deposit bail prior to a first appearance when: The defendant elects a statutory procedure (such as trial by written declaration) that requires the deposit of bail; The defendant at arraignment refuses to sign a written promise to appear for future court proceedings; or The court determines that the particular defendant is unlikely to appear as ordered without a deposit of bail and states its reasons for that finding on the record. To promote procedural fairness for infraction cases, the committees propose amendment of rule 4.105(d) to facilitate the notice provisions. The amended rule would require that the local website of trial courts include a link to statewide traffic self-help information posted on the California judicial branch website at: California traffic self-help. In addition to information on appearance at court for arraignment and trial, the self-help information includes guidance on other subjects such as traffic violator school, payment plans, community service, correctable violations, trial by written declaration, and consequences for failure to appear or pay. Traffic Services Clerk’s Office August 17, 2026 - September 4, 2026: Open 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. September 7, 2026 - October 30, 2026: Open 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. All times and dates excluding holidays. Online Support Contact Us Search or View Cases How to use the eCourt system. Stockton Physical Address 180 E. Weber Ave., 2nd Floor Stockton, CA 95202 Mailing Address Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin Traffic Department 180 E. Weber Ave., Suite 203 Stockton, CA 95202 Phone: (209) 992-5692 Manteca Physical Address 315 E. Center Street Manteca, CA 95336 Mailing Address Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin Manteca Branch 315 E. Center Street Manteca, CA 95336 Phone: (209) 239-1316 Lodi Department L-1 Address 217 W. Elm Street, 2nd Floor Lodi, CA 95240 Department L-2 Address 315 W. Elm Street Lodi, CA 95240 Mailing Address Use this mailing address for both Lodi locations. Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin Lodi Courthouse 315 W. Elm Street Lodi, CA 95240 Phone: (209) 992-5520 Hours Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding holidays.
Traffic Welcome to the San Joaquin County Superior Court’s Traffic Division. This Division has jurisdiction over Vehicle Code violations, local municipal code ordinances, some minor misdemeanors, infractions, Fish & Game, and animal codes. Traffic court An infraction is a violation of, or failure to comply with, certain provisions of the vehicle code, local ordinances, or other law or statute. Inf
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