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The San Diego Superior Court's Traffic and Minor Offense Division has jurisdiction over Vehicle Code violations, some local municipal ordinances, infractions, and minor misdemeanors. These offenses may include Fish and Game, Animal Control and transit violations (e.g. San Diego Trolley violations).
SCAM ALERT
The San Diego Superior Court has received complaints about individuals trying to scam members of the public by sending text messages stating Court fees on traffic tickets are overdue and action will be taken. The Court does not conduct business via text messages - all official correspondence from the Court is via U.S. mail. Please check the online Traffic Portal for information on the current status of any traffic tickets.
If you received a citation/ticket, you may receive a reminder notice from the court in the mail. This may be your first contact with the Traffic Court process. Most questions will be answered by information provided on the notice. Find out what to do if you have not received your reminder notice.
ALL COURTROOM APPEARANCES ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. The appear by date on your ticket is not a hearing date, it is the date by when you must take action on your ticket – pay your ticket, request an extension, set a hearing date, etc. You may schedule an appointment online or by calling the court location in which your ticket is filed.
More information on specific types of tickets:
See the Language Access page for information about requesting an interpreter.
If you received a citation/ticket for a traffic or other minor offense, a reminder notice will be mailed to you at the address on the citation. The notice includes:
If you do not receive your reminder notice at least two weeks before your appearance date (or "promise to appear date") and/or do not understand your options, you may:
If your appearance in court is required, your reminder notice will say, "You must appear in court on or before your appearance date." An appointment is required to appear in court. Bail is not required to appear in court.
It takes approximately two to three weeks from the date you received your ticket for your case to be filed with the court.
Do not disregard your ticket if you do not receive your reminder notice in the mail. You must appear at the courthouse or settle your case by mail, over the phone, or online by the appearance date, whether or not you receive the reminder notice. Read the back of your traffic ticket for additional information.
Failure to resolve your traffic/minor offense ticket by the due date (or appear-by date) may result in the issuance of a warrant, new charges, or the imposition of a $100 civil assessment penalty added to the original bail pursuant to Penal Code §1214.1, and referral to a collection agency. In addition, you may be subject to wage garnishments, tax refund intercept, and bank levies through the Franchise Tax Board Court Ordered Debt Collection Program (see Cases in Collection).