Receiving a traffic ticket in CA can be frustrating but fighting it in traffic court with the help of a traffic attorney may be your best option.
A traffic ticket conviction leads to fines, points on your motor vehicle driving record (MVR), and increased insurance premiums.
If you’ve been cited for a traffic ticket in Visalia or Porterville in Tulare County, understanding traffic court procedures and your options is essential.
Traffic Court: The Notice to Appear
When issued a traffic ticket in CA, you'll receive a notice to appear in traffic court once the ticket is processed.
This notice contains the date, time, and fine amount, referred to as bail in California. You may avoid court by paying the fine in advance, but that’s an admission of guilt, which will result in points on your record unless you qualify for Traffic Violator’s School (TVS).
Check your notice for TVS eligibility to avoid costly mistakes. That notice is not personalized and does not consider all circumstances, such as multiple tickets and others.
Never use TVS for correctable tickets. When you have more than one ticket, TVS will only keep one confidential, so your insurance company will likely raise your premium based on the other.
If you want to contest your traffic ticket, you have several options.
One option is to attend TVS, which keeps the traffic ticket confidential. TVS may be especially helpful if you have a driving job or are applying to a school where you don’t want a public traffic conviction. However, not all traffic violations qualify for TVS, and you can only attend once every 18 months.
It’s always wise to consult a traffic attorney before accepting guilt and paying the fine.
Hiring a traffic attorney is another option. They can evaluate your case, challenge the ticket in traffic court, or negotiate with the judge for reduced charges.
Ignoring the Traffic Ticket Comes at a Cost
If you ignore a traffic ticket in CA, the consequences can be severe.
Failure to appear (FTA) is a misdemeanor and can lead to additional fines, a bench warrant, suspension of your driver’s license, jailtime or probation, and harm to your credit.
Be sure to take any traffic ticket seriously and consult with a traffic attorney to decide whether to pay or dispute it in traffic court.
The Benefits of Hiring a Traffic Attorney
Hiring a traffic attorney for your traffic ticket offers several advantages.
They can explain your options for contesting the ticket and create a strategy for the best outcome.
They can represent you in court, negotiate with the judge to reduce or dismiss the charges, and help avoid points on your record.
Often, the fine from a traffic ticket is only a portion of the total financial impact. Increased insurance premiums represent nearly 75% of the cost.
In 2024, the average CA driver pays $2,645 annually for full coverage insurance, which could rise around $700 after a minor traffic ticket conviction, after the loss of your “good driver’s discount” of 20%—Bankrate.com.
Remember, this is the average. Your premium could be less or more, when you live in LA or SF or have a teen on your policy.
Consult with Bigger & Harman, APC, for Help with Traffic Court in Tulare County
If you’ve been cited for a traffic ticket in Visalia or Porterville Courthouse in Tulare County, CA, consider consulting Bigger & Harman, call Bigger & Harman, APC, at (661) 349-9300—Se habla Español 349-9755.
Use our handy contact form online or email us at attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com.
References:
The CA Driver Handbook English y Español.
The Bankrate.com article, Average cost of car insurance in CA for 2024.