SLO Superior Court

TRAFFIC INFORMATION

General Information
Arraignment Information
Correctable Citations
Time Extensions to Pay
Contesting Your Citation

General Information

Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. - Closed on holidays.

Do not mail cash. Make checks or money orders payable to “SLO SUPERIOR COURT.” Write your docket number on your check. Your docket number can be found at the top right corner of your courtesy bail notice directly under the print date. It is your responsibility to make sure payment is actually received by the court prior to your appearance date. A $30.00 charge will be added on all returned checks.

IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR OR PAY THE FULL BAIL BY THE DUE DATE, A $300.00 CIVIL ASSESSMENT WILL BE IMPOSED AND YOUR CASE ASSIGNED TO A PRIVATE COLLECTION AGENCY. IN ADDITION, A MISDEMEANOR MAY BE CHARGED AGAINST YOU AND YOUR DRIVING PRIVILEGE SUSPENDED.

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Arraignment Information

If you wish to appear in court, you must check in at the Superior Court Clerk’s office at the branch court location indicated on your courtesy bail notice to be placed on the court calendar. Your appearance date, place, and time are indicated on your copy of the citation, and on your courtesy bail notice. (The officer who issued your citation will not be present.)

SHORTS, TANKTOPS, BARE FEET, AND OTHER INAPPROPRIATE ATTIRE ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE COURTROOM.

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Correctable Citations

(“Fix-it” Tickets)
Violations marked with an asterisk on your courtesy bail notice designate correctable violations. Proof of correction for a correctable violation is your copy of the citation, or your courtesy bail notice, signed off by a peace officer or the Department of Motor Vehicles. Enclose your proof of correction, and the bail amount “with proof,” or the full bail shown on your courtesy bail notice, with the top portion of your courtesy bail notice, and submit to the court on or before your due date. (For proof of insurance violations, your insurance must have been In effect on the violation date to be a correctable violation.)

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Time Extensions to Pay

You may request additional time to pay your fine/bail. (This option is not available for payment of Traffic School fees.) You do not need to appear in court, however you must appear in person at the clerk's office to request a "Counter Arraignment." This option allows you to enter a guilty plea and defer the fine payment for 3 to 6 months. When requesting this option you are required to make a minimum payment of up to $31.00 for each violation, which will be deducted from the fine amount.

You have the option to perform community work service in lieu of paying the fine, credited at $10.00 per hour. This is only available by requesting a Counter Arraignment in person at the Superior Court clerk’s office, or appearing in court at your assigned date for arraignment.

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Contesting Your Citation

You may contest your citation by requesting a Court Trial or Trial by Written Declaration.

TRIAL BY WRITTEN DECLARATION - This option is for infraction violations only and does not require a personal appearance. You may request a Trial by Written Declaration which requires you to post bail in lieu of your appearance. Instructions and forms for a Trial by Written Declaration may be obtained by mail, in person or from the court's web site. Submit the Trial by Written Declaration form with any facts or evidence you wish to have considered. A written statement will be requested from the citing officer(s). A judicial officer will review your case and you will be notified by mail of the decision.

COURT TRIAL - This option requires a court appearance and is available for all violations. A Court Trial requires you to post bail if you do not appear for arraignment. Posting bail pursuant to VC40519(b) constitutes a waiver of your right to a speedy trial within 45 days. Send a check or money order for the total bail or appear for arraignment and enter your plea, afterwhich the court will set your trial date and notice you by mail. If you fail to appear at the time designated for your trial, either a trial in your absence will occur (trial in absentia), or a VC40508(a) misdemeanor charge may be added against you, which bears a $300.00 assessment and a driver's license suspension until resolved.

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This page last updated on 04-15-08

Home Criminal Operations CRIMINAL OPERATIONS • Bail Schedule • Criminal Calendar • FAQ • Local Forms JUVENILE • Juvenile Calendar • FAQ • Local Forms TRAFFIC • FAQ • General Traffic Info • List Of Traffic Schools • Local Forms • Maps & Addresses • Traffic School Info			TRAFFIC INFORMATION General Information Arraignment Information Correctable Citations Time Extensions to Pay Contesting Your Citation General Information Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. - Closed on holidays. Do not mail cash. Make checks or money orders payable to “SLO SUPERIOR COURT.” Write your docket number on your check. Your docket number can be found at the top right corner of your courtesy bail notice directly under the print date. It is your responsibility to make sure payment is actually received by the court prior to your appearance date. A $30.00 charge will be added on all returned checks. IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR OR PAY THE FULL BAIL BY THE DUE DATE, A $300.00 CIVIL ASSESSMENT WILL BE IMPOSED AND YOUR CASE ASSIGNED TO A PRIVATE COLLECTION AGENCY. IN ADDITION, A MISDEMEANOR MAY BE CHARGED AGAINST YOU AND YOUR DRIVING PRIVILEGE SUSPENDED. Top Arraignment Information If you wish to appear in court, you must check in at the Superior Court Clerk’s office at the branch court location indicated on your courtesy bail notice to be placed on the court calendar. Your appearance date, place, and time are indicated on your copy of the citation, and on your courtesy bail notice. (The officer who issued your citation will not be present.) SHORTS, TANKTOPS, BARE FEET, AND OTHER INAPPROPRIATE ATTIRE ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE COURTROOM. Top Correctable Citations (“Fix-it” Tickets) Violations marked with an asterisk on your courtesy bail notice designate correctable violations. Proof of correction for a correctable violation is your copy of the citation, or your courtesy bail notice, signed off by a peace officer or the Department of Motor Vehicles. Enclose your proof of correction, and the bail amount “with proof,” or the full bail shown on your courtesy bail notice, with the top portion of your courtesy bail notice, and submit to the court on or before your due date. (For proof of insurance violations, your insurance must have been In effect on the violation date to be a correctable violation.) Top Time Extensions to Pay You may request additional time to pay your fine/bail. (This option is not available for payment of Traffic School fees.) You do not need to appear in court, however you must appear in person at the clerk's office to request a "Counter Arraignment." This option allows you to enter a guilty plea and defer the fine payment for 3 to 6 months. When requesting this option you are required to make a minimum payment of up to $31.00 for each violation, which will be deducted from the fine amount. You have the option to perform community work service in lieu of paying the fine, credited at $10.00 per hour. This is only available by requesting a Counter Arraignment in person at the Superior Court clerk’s office, or appearing in court at your assigned date for arraignment. Top Contesting Your Citation You may contest your citation by requesting a Court Trial or Trial by Written Declaration. TRIAL BY WRITTEN DECLARATION - This option is for infraction violations only and does not require a personal appearance. You may request a Trial by Written Declaration which requires you to post bail in lieu of your appearance. Instructions and forms for a Trial by Written Declaration may be obtained by mail, in person or from the court's web site. Submit the Trial by Written Declaration form with any facts or evidence you wish to have considered. A written statement will be requested from the citing officer(s). A judicial officer will review your case and you will be notified by mail of the decision. COURT TRIAL - This option requires a court appearance and is available for all violations. A Court Trial requires you to post bail if you do not appear for arraignment. Posting bail pursuant to VC40519(b) constitutes a waiver of your right to a speedy trial within 45 days. Send a check or money order for the total bail or appear for arraignment and enter your plea, afterwhich the court will set your trial date and notice you by mail. If you fail to appear at the time designated for your trial, either a trial in your absence will occur (trial in absentia), or a VC40508(a) misdemeanor charge may be added against you, which bears a $300.00 assessment and a driver's license suspension until resolved. Top This page last updated on 04-15-08