Los Angeles Court - Traffic Court
WHAT IS TRAFFIC COURT?
The Los Angeles County Superior Court[G] has 27 traffic locations that process over 1.8 million new citations[G] each year.
Any violation(s)[G] written on a Notice to Appear[G] by a law enforcement officer[G] and filed directly with the court are processed
in the Los Angeles County Superior Court’s Traffic Division.
These citations are typically issued for infractions[G] and some misdemeanor[G] violations.
WHAT ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TICKETS ISSUED?
There are three different types of tickets[G] issued by law enforcement officers. The types of violations they are issued for are:
• Infractions
• Misdemeanors
When the officer asks you to sign the ticket that does not mean you admit you are guilty. You are promising to appear in court or to pay the ticket.
WHAT INFORMATION IS ON YOUR TICKET?
You will need the information on your ticket to determine how to proceed.
It is important to read the information on your ticket.
The front of your ticket provides you with the following information:
• Issuing agency[G]
• Date issued
• Time issued
• Violations cited
• Location of violation
• Issuing officer
• Place to appear
• Time to appear
• Court phone number
WHAT IS A PARKING TICKET?
You may receive a parking ticket[G] when you park your car in a restricted area or you park in an improper manner.
You should contact the parking agency[G] listed on the ticket and ask what to do if you think you got the ticket by mistake.
If you do not pay the ticket before it is due, your fine[G] will increase. If you do not pay your parking ticket at all,
you will not be able to renew your car's registration.
Parking tickets are not filed with the court but are handled by the city where it was written or the Los Angeles Parking Violations Bureau.
The following phone numbers are for parking ticket information only:
| City Agency | Phone |
|---|---|
| City of Los Angeles | (213) 623-6533 |
| City of Beverly Hills | (800) 752-1195 |
| City of Culver City | (888) 788-2755 |
| City of El Segundo | (310) 524-2200 |
| City of Hawthorne | (310) 970-7932 |
| City of Inglewood | (310) 412-5500 |
| City of Long Beach | (562) 570-6822 |
| City of Montebello | (323) 887-1212 |
| City of Santa Clarita | (661) 259-2489 |
| City of Santa Monica | (800) 214-1526 |
| City of West Hollywood | (800) 687-2458 |
WHAT IS AN INFRACTION TICKET?
You can receive an infraction ticket[G] when you violate the vehicle code[G] or local ordinances[G].
You will usually pay a fine that will include a penalty assessment[G] and fees.
Depending of the type of violation, you can request community service in addition.
You will not serve jail time for an infraction ticket. You may have a lawyer represent you but you will not be entitled to court appointed counsel[G].
Some of the most common vehicle code infractions tickets are for:
• Expired license
• Expired registration
• Broken automobile equipment
• Running a red light or stop sign
Some of the common local ordinances violations are:
• Disturbing the peace
• Littering
• Public transit fare evasion
Infraction appeals are handled by Los Angeles Superior Court Criminal Division.
WHAT IS A MISDEMEANOR TICKET?
You can be given a misdemeanor ticket for more serious crimes. Misdemeanors are punishable by jail time of up to 1 year and/or a fine.
Your base fine[G] for a misdemeanor will be higher than an infraction fine. You may also have to pay restitution[G] in addition to the fine.
Some of the misdemeanor violations you can be cited for are:
• Driving without a license
• Driving with a suspended license
• Vandalism
WHAT HELP IS AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY?
If you have a disability and need assistance, ask the Clerk's Office immediately to help accommodate your needs. If you are hearing-impaired and need assistance, please notify the Clerk's Office immediately.
