Traffic School, quick question?

Question

I live in California and I got pulled over for the first time ever (I'm 19) and was given a citation or "Notice to Appear" slip for not having headlights on at night. It was an honest mistake in a brightly lit location and I simply didn't think to turn them on. Anyway...the officer that pulled me over said he wasn't gonna fine me for it but handed me the "Notice to Appear" slip and said to call the number at the bottom. I called it and was given the option of Traffic school, or paying a $110 fine by an answering machine. I will call tomorrow when an actual person will answer the phone but if I decide to do traffic school, do I still have to appear in court? Or can I just take an online one, go to the court building, turn in the certificate and be done with it? Thanks for answers

Answer 1

You can go to traffic school, wherever your choose, and the ticket will be dismissed and not appear on your driving record. You will still have to pay the fine but will not have to appear in court.

Answer 2

The officer said that HE was not going to fine you (in some places the policeman collects the fine). The fine is imposed by the court. You can probably take care of all of this on line. Most courts handle traffic tickets through their web site (do a search for the county name and "superior court"), and you can pay the fine with a credit card. Most courts permit online traffic schools as well (there will be a list of approved schools available), and the traffic school takes care of getting the certificate to the court. You can do it all from the comfort of your own home, and never have to go to the courthouse or wait on the phone.

Answer 3

The answering machine does not know the specifics of your case. Are you sure the officer said he wasn't going to fine you? If that is the case then something is messed up. Either the officer gave you the wrong information, the wrong form, or there was a miscommunication. If you think the officer said he wasn't going to fine you, maybe he marked the citation as a written warning. Contact the department and request the officer that gave you the ticket call you back and answer your question for you. If the officer did not intend for you to have a fine or traffic school and some paperwork was completed incorrectly then that officer is the only one who can correct it.

Answer 4

If you go to the court, there is a line to pay bail for your ticket. They will ask you if you want to go to court, pay the fine or go to traffic school. If you choose to go to traffic school, you must pay the fine, plus the traffic school fee. Been there a few times. Here in California, you can send it in if you don't want to go to traffic school, but you will have a point on your record for three years.

Answer 5

I took the Traffic School in Florida. I have not heard of an online school. I had to go for 4 hours. After I attended, I was given back $10 of my fine that had been paid previously.

Answer 6

well, when i lived in texas all you had to do was notify the court tat you wanted to do traffic school and you had a certain amount of time to finish it, then you could mail in a copy of your ticket, the confirmation letter from the traffic school and any dismissal fees. You never had to go to court. When you call tomorrow they will be able to tell you.

Answer 7

You know, the fact is that you subconsciously really just don't want to go. That's why you missed the first one, and that's why you can't find the papers now, and that's why you probably do not accurately remember the address, time and date of the current appointment. Call the clerk of the court first thing in the morning, and track down the information you need. It isn't going to go away. You have to do something about the problem, and if you keep avoiding it, it will find you, and be in a really bad mood when it does.

Answer 8

Pay the fine and go to the traffic school.