How Do I Go to Traffic School?

Benefits of Going to Traffic School

After July 1, 2011, if a person, after getting permission from the traffic court, attends a licensed traffic school program and submits the certificate of completion to the court for within the time allowed, the DMV will hold the conviction for the traffic ticket moving violation confidential and it will not show on the driving record. If a person pleads guilty and pays the fine for the traffic violation, it is likely that the automobile insurance premium may be adversely affected. 

Eligibility for Going to Traffic School 

The eligibility requirements for attending the Traffic Violator School Program are as follows: 

• The traffic ticket bail/fine must be paid as well as the State Mandated Traffic School administrative fee before signing up for Traffic School. These fee is in addition to the traffic school course fee charged by the Traffic School
• The person must hold a valid commercial, or non-commercial driver’s license at the time the violation was committed. (As of September 13, 2012, holders of commercial driver’s licenses, who are driving a non-commercial vehicle at the time of the violation, are eligible to attend traffic violator school.)
• The person has not attended a traffic school program within the last 18 months. The eighteen (18) month period is calculated from violation date to violation date, not traffic school attendance date.
• The traffic ticket must be for a moving violation for an infraction, not a misdemeanor, and not in a commercial vehicle
• The traffic ticket violation does not require the person to have a mandatory court appearance
• The traffic ticket must not involve alcohol or drugs
• The traffic ticket must not be issued for violations of Vehicle Code sections 22406.5 vc or 21655.5 vc
• If the person has a failure to appear, warrant, or civil assessment, the failure to appear, warrant, or civil assessment charge must be cleared before traffic violator school will be allowed
• WARNING: If the person is not eligible to attend traffic school, but does so anyway, the conviction will be reported on the DMV driving record and there will be no refund of any fees paid 

Payment and Fees for Traffic School 

A person may choose to attend Traffic Violator School if all the above conditions are met. The full bail amount and any required proof of correction fees must be posted, and a non-refundable, State-mandated administrative fee must also be paid. Payment in full must be deposited with the court prior to applying for traffic school. Traffic schools also charge a separate tuition fee. You would need to contact the traffic school of your choice for the exact amount of tuition. Home Study or Internet courses are also available. 

Payment for traffic school may be made online, using phone system, by mail, or in person, depending on availability. 

Extension for Completing Traffic School

The person must contact the court as soon as possible to ask for an extension for completing the traffic school course, if the person is not able to complete the traffic school and return the Certificate of Completion to the traffic court by the due date. in Most California courts, extensions for traffic school due date can be done online, by phone, or in person. 

How to Find a Traffic School? 

After making all the fees, the traffic court will provide a qualified list of both classroom and on-line traffic schools. In Most California courts, the case will be extended 90 days to allow for completion of school and return of the certificate of completion.

Traffic School Certificates

The traffic ticket will remain confidential upon submittal of proof of completion of Traffic School. Submittal of the Proof of Completion to the traffic court is the person's responsibility and not that of the traffic school or postal service. The certificate must be received by the traffic court on or before the due date. If sending the certificate of completion by mail, a minimum of 10 days must be allowed prior to the due date to ensure proper processing.

The certificate of completion for traffic school will not be accepted if:

• Payment has not been received or paid in full
• The certificate of completion must be from a traffic school that has been approved by the Superior Court of California in that specific county

Failure to Complete Traffic School

Failure to submit proof of traffic school completion by the due date will result in the traffic ticket bail being forfeited, the violation being reported to DMV as a conviction, and a DMV point on the driving record.

Fight the Traffic Ticket

If you have a traffic ticket and if you would like to fight your traffic ticket without going to court using a trial by written declaration, we can help. Signup for our service and take advantage of our 100% money back guarantee. See information for the most common traffic ticket violations 22349 a vc, 22349 b vc, 22350 vc, 22356 b vc, 21453 a vc, 21453 b vc, 21453 c vc, etc. We have had a great success rate for trial by written declaration in California, so give us a chance to help you with your traffic ticket. Traffic ticket fines and points in California are very costly. If you decide to go to traffic school in California, you still are required to pay the fine for the traffic ticket.