You have five options in California — and the cheapest one usually isn't "just pay it." Here's how each works and what it does to your insurance.
Every county's traffic court works slightly differently. The courtesy notice the court mails you lists your deadline, your bail (fine) amount, whether you're eligible for traffic school, and how to contest. Never ignore the deadline — a missed deadline can turn a simple infraction into a license hold and civil assessment.
Fastest, and the most expensive long-term. Paying = a conviction: the point goes on your record (most one-point violations count for about 3 years), your insurer sees it, and it can cost you the 20% Good Driver discount. The fine is often the smallest part of what the ticket costs.
For most minor moving violations, if you haven't used traffic school for a ticket in the past 18 months, you can pay the fine + fees, complete an approved course (online counts), and the conviction stays confidential — insurers don't see the point.
Correctable violations — broken light, expired registration or tags, no proof of insurance — are dismissed once you fix the problem, get proof of correction signed (police, DMV, or court, depending on the violation), and pay a small dismissal fee (typically $25). Don't pay these as if they were fines.
California lets you contest an infraction entirely in writing — no court appearance:
Details and forms: the California courts self-help guide.
For serious situations — misdemeanors, very high speed, accidents tied to the citation, or anything touching a commercial license — an in-person trial or a traffic attorney is worth the cost. If the citing officer doesn't appear at trial, dismissal is common.
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Not quite — you still pay the fine plus a court administrative fee and the school fee. But the conviction stays confidential, so the point is masked from your driving record and insurers do not see it. For most eligible drivers that protects the 20% Good Driver discount, which is usually worth far more than the school costs.
The fine is the small part. A visible point can disqualify you from California’s 20% Good Driver discount for years and raise your base rate. Depending on your premium, one ticket can quietly cost four figures over three years — which is why fighting or masking a ticket is often worth the effort.
In a Trial by Written Declaration the officer must submit a written statement. If the officer does not respond, the case is commonly dismissed — this is one reason written declarations succeed more often than people expect. If you lose, you can generally request a brand-new in-person trial (trial de novo) within 20 days.
Traffic school generally does not mask violations for commercial drivers the way it does for regular licenses, and points threaten your livelihood. CDL holders should take any ticket seriously — contesting it or consulting a traffic attorney is often the right move. Ask us how a violation would affect your commercial insurance before you decide.
This page is educational and is not legal advice — procedures vary by county and case. Independent broker — we compare multiple carriers; coverage, eligibility, price and availability vary and may not be available to everyone. Related: how to pay less for car insurance · SR-22 insurance · free DMV practice test.
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