Traffic Court
The Traffic Division handles most infraction violations. If you are a minor (persons under 18) cited for a non-vehicle code infraction, you will be required to appear in Court. Notice will be sent to the address on your citation and you may contact the Juvenile Division with any questions. Driving Under the Influence (DUI) violations are not heard in in the Traffic Division; please contact the Criminal Division regarding any DUI violations.
If you have been issued a citation for an infraction, you are required to either pay, appear, or otherwise address your citation before the date written on your ticket. The Court will mail you a Reminder Notice at the address listed on your citation. The Reminder Notice will include the date by which your citation must be addressed. If you do not receive a Reminder Notice, you are still required to contact the Court to address your case by the date listed on your citation. Failure to address your citation by the due date may result in a failure to appear, and a hold may be placed on your DMV record.
Traffic/infraction cases are handled by Departments 10, and 12.
To reduce unnecessary travel to courthouse facilities, the Court provides various options to resolve your citation without appearing in court.
Online Services
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Pay by Credit Card
We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. There is a 2.75% credit card fee and a $5.95 convenience fee. For installment payments, the convenience fee is $2.95.
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Pay by Electronic Funds Transfer
There is a convenience fee of $2.50.
Please Note: If requesting Traffic School, add an additional $69.00 to your fine payment.
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Plead Not Guilty
Request a Court Trial or a Trial by Written Declaration
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Request a Continuance
The Court can grant a one-time 60 day continuance for infraction Arraignments. You must submit your request before the date on your citation.
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Request Traffic School
Pay your fine by credit card and complete Traffic School within 90 days.
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Can't Afford to Pay?
Request a reduction based on your ability to pay.
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Find a Traffic School
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Find Your Citation
Frequently Asked Questions
For adult citations, your case must appear on the Web Portal before you can resolve your citation. It may take the court around 30-45 days to receive your citation from the Law Enforcement Agency. If 30-45 days have passed since you received your citation and it is not on the court's Web Portal, contact the Law Enforcement Agency who wrote your citation and ask for an update.
For juvenile citations (persons under 18), contact the Cameron Park Branch at (530) 621-5047 or the South Lake Tahoe Branch at (530) 573-3044 to find out the status of your or your child's citation.
If your citation was issued within the last 45 days, and you do not find it on the Web Portal, you are still responsible for appearing at the Court on or before the date listed at the bottom of your citation. Failure to do so can result in additional penalties and suspension of your driving privilege.
No, but you must address your citation with the court in some manner before the date on your citation. Failure to do so may result in a failure to appear, and a hold may be placed on your DMV record.
Online: Pay your citation via Credit Card here or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) here.
By Mail: Mail a check or money order to the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch. Include the citation number with your payment.
Clerk's Office: Bring your citation to the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch. The clerk's office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-3:00 pm excluding court closures and holidays.
Can't Afford to Pay? Petition the Court to reduce your fine based on your ability to pay here.
Due to confidentiality, juvenile cases cannot be searched on the Web Portal or ePayIt. Juvenile vehicle code citations can be paid online using an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Pay your or your child's vehicle code citation using one of the following options:
Online: Pay the citation via EFT here.
By Mail: Mail a check or money order to the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch. Include the citation number with your payment.
Clerk's Office: Bring the citation to the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch. The clerk's office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-3:00 pm excluding court closures and holidays.
NOTE: If the minor was cited for a non-vehicle code infraction, you will be required to appear in Court. Notice will be sent to the address on your citation and you may contact the Juvenile Division with any questions.
To plead guilty and request a fine reduction use one of the following options:
By Email: Fill out Local Form T-26 and email it to infractionservices@eldoradocourt.org.
By Mail: Fill out Local Form T-26 and mail it to the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch.
Clerk's Office: Visit the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch to fill out Local Form T-26.
In Court: Appear in court on the date/time listed on your citation. Enter a plea (guilty or no contest) and request a fine reduction.
Can't Afford to Pay? Petition the Court to reduce your fine based on your ability to pay here.
If you cannot afford to pay your fine, you may petition the court to reduce your fine based on your ability to pay. Click here for more information or to submit your petition.
You may submit Local Form T-26 or Judicial Council Form TR-300 to the court to request a payment plan. Note: Judicial Council Form TR-300 requires an initial payment of at least 10% be included with the form. Use one of the following options:
By Email: Fill out Local Form T-26 and email it to infractionservices@eldoradocourt.org.
By Mail: Fill out Local Form T-26 or Judicial Council Form TR-300 and mail it to the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch. If submitting Judicial Council Form TR-300, include your initial payment of at least 10%.
Clerk's Office: Visit the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch and fill out Local Form T-26 or Judicial Council Form TR-300.
In Court: Appear in court on the date/time listed on your citation. Enter a plea (guilty or no contest) and request a payment plan.
Please note, the Court does not mail monthly statements and receipts are sent only if you provide a self-addressed stamped envelope.
No, the court cannot schedule automatic payments and we do not send payment reminders.
Use one of the following options to plead not guilty and schedule a court trial. A contested trial will be scheduled within 45 days or you may waive your right to a speedy trial and have it scheduled within a reasonable amount of time.
Online: Plead not guilty and request a court trial online here.
By Email: Fill out Local Form T-19 and email it to infractionservices@eldoradocourt.org.
By Mail: Fill out Local Form T-19 and mail it to the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch.
Clerk's Office: Visit the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch and fill out Local Form T-19.
In Court: Appear in court on the date/time listed on your Reminder Notice. Plead not guilty and schedule your court trial.
Please note: the Court may require the deposit of bail pursuant to California Rule of Court, Rule 4.105(c).
By selecting Time Waived, you are agreeing to waive your right to a speedy trial and will have your trial scheduled within a reasonable amount of time.
By selecting Time Not Waived, the Court is required to hold your trial within 45 days.
Yes, you can hire and pay for an attorney to represent you in traffic court. However, you do not have the right to court-appointed counsel in infraction cases.
If you would like to contest your citation/plead not guilty but you live out of town or it would otherwise be difficult for you to make an appearance, you can request a Trial by Written Declaration which would allow you and the officer to both write statements in lieu of an appearance in court. A Trial by Written Declaration can only be requested for infractions charged under Vehicle Code section 40902(a) and California Rule of Court, rule 4.210. When requesting a Trial by Written Declaration, you are required to post the bail/fine for your violation pursuant to Vehicle Code section 40902(b).
You can request a Trial by Written Declaration using one of the following options:
Online: Request a Trial by Written Declaration and submit your payment online here.
By Mail: Fill out Local Form T-21 and mail it to the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch with your payment.
Clerk's Office: Visit the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch and fill out Local Form T-21 and submit it with your payment. The clerk's office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-3:00 pm excluding court closures and holidays.
In Court: Appear in court on the date/time listed on your Reminder Notice. Plead not guilty, request a Trial by Written Declaration, and post the bail.
Upon receipt of Local Form T-21, your appearance will be vacated. The court will mail or email the defendant and arresting officer a declaration form for both parties to respond to usually within 30 days from mailing. A decision will be issued and mailed.
- If found guilty, the bail/fine is forfeited.
- If found not guilty, the bail/fine will be returned to the defendant within four (4) to six (6) weeks.
You may request a one-time 60 day continuance if the following applies:
- Your name and case appear on the Web Portal. This means your citation has been filed with the court.
- All charges on the case are active. This means you have not previously appeared and pled.
- Your current date to appear has not passed.
Online: Submit your request online here.
By Phone: Contact the Cameron Park Branch at (530) 621-5047 or the South Lake Tahoe Branch at (530) 573-3044. Have your citation number ready and ask for a continuance.
Clerk's Office: Visit the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch. Bring your citation and ask for a continuance. The clerk's office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-3:00 pm excluding court closures and holidays.
Contact the court in writing to request a continuance at least 10 days before your scheduled trial date. Mail or submit your form in person to the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch, wherever you are scheduled to appear.
Proof of correction may be obtained in the following ways:
- Smog control device violations must be inspected & certified by an authorized Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Device Installation & Inspection station
- Light and brake violations must be certified by an authorized Inspection & Installation station
- For other defects, proof of correction may be obtained at any law enforcement office during normal working hours.
Should you choose not to provide proof of correction of violations other than Vehicle Code section 4000(a) registration violations, you may pay the full “bail without correction” to clear the case.
By providing proof of correction to the court, your fine payment can be reduced to $25.00 per correctable violation. Once your citation has been signed off by a law enforcement officer, or you have otherwise obtained acceptable proof of correction, contact the court through one of the following methods:
By Email: Fill out Local Form T-26 and email it to infractionservices@eldoradocourt.org with your proof of correction. Once your form has been processed, you will be notified by the court and can pay your fine online by credit card here, online by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) here, or by mail or in person at the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch. Payment should be submitted by your due date.
By Mail: Mail your signed off citation to the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch, and include your fine payment. If you would like a receipt, include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Clerk's Office: Visit the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch. Bring your proof of correction and pay the fine. The clerk's office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-3:00 pm excluding court closures and holidays.
In Court: Appear in court on the date/time listed on your citation. Show your proof of correction to the Court and pay the fine.
If you were cited for Insurance Violations – Vehicle Code Section 16028(a) or 16028(c), and have no previous insurance violations on your driving record, one of the following may apply to you:
- Providing proof of liability insurance on your vehicle or yourself showing you were insured at the time of the citation, reduces your bail for this violation to $25.00 per violation being corrected;
- Providing proof of liability insurance on your vehicle or yourself purchased not more than 30 days after the date of the citation, bail is $469.00.
To be eligible for Traffic School you must meet the following criteria:
- You have not attended traffic school for a citation issued with the last 18 months from the violation date;
- Your citation is for a moving vehicle code violation and does not exceed 25 mph over the speed limit and does not have a misdemeanor charge that requires a mandatory appearance in court;
- You were not cited in a commercial vehicle;
- If your case involves a failure to appear, the failure to appear charge must be addressed or paid in full before you can attend traffic school;
- Your citation does not involve alcohol or drugs;
- Your citation is not for Vehicle Code sections 22406.5 or 21655.5;
- Your citation does not have a point count of more than one point under Vehicle Code section 12810 or more than one and one-half points under Vehicle Code section 12810 or .5(b)(2).
If you are unsure of your eligibility, contact the Cameron Park Branch at (530) 621-5047 or the South Lake Tahoe Branch at (530) 573-3044.
Traffic school is entirely optional, however it will prevent a point from being placed on your driving record and reduce the chances of increases to your auto insurance rates. Traffic school can be completed online or in person and typically takes around 4 hours to complete.
If you are eligible and choose to attend Traffic School, you must pay an additional non-refundable fee of $69.00 and you will have 90 days to complete the class. You can request traffic school using one of the following options:
Online: Submit your request online using a credit card here or online using an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) here. Please note: you must add the additional $69.00 fee to your fine when requesting Traffic School via EFT.
By Mail: Fill out Local Form T-26 and mail it to the the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your form so we can send you a Traffic School brochure.
Clerk's Office: Visit the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch. Pay your fine and ask for Traffic School. The clerk's office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-3:00 pm excluding court closures and holidays.
In Court: Appear in court on the date/time listed on your reminder notice. Enter a plea (guilty or no contest) and request Traffic School.
Once your request for traffic school has been authorized, you will be provided a list of approved traffic schools and a completion due date. You may only attend traffic school approved by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
You must request Traffic School when making your timely payment or at the time of your hearing, if you wish to appear. Failure to do so will make you ineligible for Traffic School.
NOTE: An additional fee may be charged by the individual traffic school.
No, you cannot get an extension for Traffic School completion.
If you receive a Failure to Appear Notice, you have 20 days from the date on the letter to respond. Failure to respond or show good cause as to why you did not respond will result in referral to a collections agency. You must pay your fine, request a court trial, request a trial by declaration, or otherwise address your citation with the Court by the due date.
Can't Afford to Pay? Petition the Court to reduce your fine based on your ability to pay here.
If you receive a Failure to Pay Notice, you have 20 days from the date on the letter to make your payment. Failure to do so may result in referral to a collections agency.
Pay your fine using one of the following options:
Online: Pay online via Credit Card here or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) here.
By Mail: Mail a check or money order to the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch. Include the case or citation number with your payment.
Clerk's Office: Visit the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch, have your case or citation number ready and make your payment. The clerk's office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-3:00 pm excluding court closures and holidays.
Can't Afford to Pay? Petition the Court to reduce your fine based on your ability to pay here.
Parking violations are not handled by the Superior Court. Please contact the agency who wrote the ticket for more information.
You can file an appeal with the Appeals Division no later than 30 days from the date of decision. Visit the California Courts Online Self-Help Guide for instruction on how to file an appeal.