So, you’ve had a run-in with the law while you were behind the wheel, and now you’ve got a citation. If this is your first traffic ticket or it’s been a while since you’ve had one, you might wonder how to pay your fine.
When you get a traffic ticket in Los Angeles, you have several options for making the required payment. The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles handles all tickets in the area, and you can usually pay traffic fines online, by phone, or by mail, without needing to go in person to a traffic court.
Before you make the payment, though, it’s important to understand the type of ticket you have and what your options are.
Traffic Tickets in Los Angeles
When you receive your ticket, read the citation carefully. It contains information on what violation has occurred, the amount of the bail or fine, and instructions for how to pay it.
Fix-it Tickets
If the violation is for a defect on your car (sometimes called a “fix-it ticket”), you need to get the problem fixed and then visit any law enforcement office during regular business hours to have the correction signed off by an officer. Once this is done, you can send the fine and signed payment coupon to the courthouse address found on the ticket.
Moving Violation Tickets
If your ticket is for a moving violation, you may be able to take a defensive driving course and have your ticket dismissed. This will prevent you from getting points on your license and keep your record clean.
In California, you must pay your fine upfront, even if you go to traffic school. If the fine is later dismissed, the state issues you a refund.
No matter what the ticket is for, you must take action to clear it on or before the due date. If you don’t, you will be charged further penalties or may even have your driver’s license suspended, so do yourself a favor and don't put this off.
Finding LA Ticket Information Online
To access services and information regarding your Los Angeles traffic ticket, go to the LA Court's online portal. From here, you can enter your citation number or your driver’s license number and do any of the following:
Pay your fines
Request a Ticket Payment Plan (TPP)
Apply for a 60-day extension to pay your ticket
Check your eligibility for traffic school
Check the status of tickets
Schedule a date to go to traffic court
If you can’t or don’t want to pay your traffic ticket online, you can also pay it in person, over the phone, or by mail.
How to Pay Your LA Traffic Ticket
Payment by Phone
To pay your traffic ticket over the phone, start by going to LACourt.org and entering your citation number or driver’s license number. If you are eligible to pay your ticket by phone, you will be given a local area phone number to call, where you can pay fines using an automated system.
Payment by Mail
To pay the fine by mail, look for the words “Bail Amount” on the citation and send this amount to the LA Traffic Court address shown on the ticket.
Paying In Person
Some traffic violations require a mandatory court appearance and cannot be paid by phone or online. This will be indicated on your ticket and you will also see the information when accessing the online portal. In this case, the bottom of your ticket should include instructions on how to schedule a date for your court hearing.
Typically, you can make an appointment for a hearing at the LACourt.org website or at any LA County traffic court. If you want to challenge a traffic ticket or if you need a language interpreter to help you, you will also need to go in person to traffic court.
Consider a Los Angeles Traffic School
Paying traffic tickets in Los Angeles can get expensive. Not only are the fines often steep, but you may also get points on your license, which can lead to higher car insurance rates.
If this is your first traffic ticket or you have not attended traffic school for 18 months or longer, you may be eligible to take a defensive driving course, which can remove the points from your license and prevent insurance rate hikes.
iDriveSafely’s California Online Traffic School is very affordable and the cost includes free electronic submission to the DMV. It’s a fast and easy course that you can finish in one day. Check it out now!
Updated 3/6/23
