Bakersfield Traffic Court Records
Traffic court records for Bakersfield get processed by Kern County Superior Court. No California city operates its own traffic court. When you get a ticket in Bakersfield, the case goes to the county system. Kern County has a dedicated Metropolitan Traffic courthouse that serves Bakersfield and surrounding areas. The court offers night court sessions twice monthly for people who cannot attend during regular business hours. You can search cases online, pay fines, and request traffic school through the county website. Most services are available without visiting the courthouse in person.
Bakersfield Traffic Court Quick Facts
Kern County Processes Bakersfield Tickets
All traffic citations in Bakersfield go through Kern County Superior Court. This is standard across California. Cities do not have their own traffic court systems. The Metropolitan Traffic courthouse at three one three one Arrow Street in Bakersfield handles most local traffic cases. This building was built specifically for high volume traffic matters.
When law enforcement issues a ticket in Bakersfield, that citation gets sent to the county clerk. The clerk enters it into the case management system. This process takes time. The court website at kern.courts.ca.gov says to wait before calling about a new ticket. If you try to look up your case too soon, it will not be in the system yet.
Your ticket shows an appear by date. This is not a court date. You do not need to show up on that day. It is the deadline for you to respond to the citation. You can pay the fine, request a trial, or ask for traffic school if you qualify. The county website explains each option in detail. Read the information before you decide how to handle your case.
Look Up Bakersfield Traffic Cases
Kern County uses Tyler Odyssey for case management. The public portal lets you search by name or case number. You can access the portal from the main county court website. Click on case access or online services to find the link. The system shows basic case information at no charge.
New tickets take time to appear in the online system. Wait at least two weeks from your citation date before searching. If the case does not show after two weeks, try again in a few more days. The court processes thousands of citations. Entry delays happen especially after weekends and holidays when many tickets come in at once.
The California courts self help website has information about traffic tickets at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov. This state site covers topics like trials, traffic school eligibility, and ability to pay programs. The information applies to all California counties including Kern County. You can learn what options exist for your situation.
Kern County keeps traffic infraction records for three years after a case closes. Misdemeanor traffic records stay on file for five years. DUI cases remain for ten years. After these retention periods, the court may destroy older files. If you need records from an old Bakersfield traffic case, contact the clerk office to check if the file still exists.
What Happens After You Get a Ticket
The court sends a reminder notice in the mail. This notice lists the bail amount and your options. Bail is what you pay if you plead guilty or no contest. The notice also says whether traffic school is available for your violation. Not all tickets qualify for school.
You do not have to wait for the notice before taking action. Failure to receive it does not excuse you from the deadline. The date on your original citation is binding. Some people never get the reminder notice due to address changes or mail problems. You can search your case online or call the court instead of waiting for mail. The traffic court phone number is six six one six one zero seven zero zero zero.
If you miss the deadline, the court adds penalties. A civil assessment gets added to your balance. The DMV puts a hold on your license. You cannot renew your registration until you clear the hold. These consequences are preventable if you respond before your deadline passes. Even if you need more time, ask for an extension before the due date.
Kern County offers payment plans for people who cannot afford to pay the full fine at once. The court reviews your income and expenses. They set up monthly payments based on what you can handle. There may be a setup fee. Another option is community service through approved organizations. The court assigns a dollar value per hour. You work off your fine through volunteer service.
Traffic School in Bakersfield
Traffic school keeps a conviction off your public DMV record. Insurance companies cannot see it. This prevents your rates from going up. To use traffic school, you must meet certain requirements. You cannot have attended school for another ticket in the past eighteen months. The violation must be a one point offense under California law. You cannot have been in a commercial vehicle when cited.
Some violations disqualify you from traffic school. Speeding more than twenty five miles per hour over the limit makes you ineligible. Alcohol related offenses do not qualify. DUI cases cannot use traffic school. The reminder notice tells you if school is an option for your specific violation. If you qualify, choose it before your deadline. After the deadline passes, you lose the chance to use traffic school.
Requesting traffic school costs money. You pay the full bail amount. You also pay an administrative fee to the court. Then you pay the traffic school for the course. Online schools usually charge between twenty and fifty dollars. Pick a school from the DMV approved list. You can find this list on the DMV website. Most people use online schools because they let you work at your own pace.
After you complete the course, the school sends your certificate to the court. The court reports the completion to DMV as confidential. This means it does not appear on your public record. But remember the eighteen month rule. If you get another ticket within eighteen months from the first violation date, you cannot use school again. The second conviction goes on your public record.
Night Court for Bakersfield Cases
Kern County offers night court twice each month. Sessions run from five in the evening until seven thirty at night. This helps people who cannot take time off work during normal court hours. Check the court website for the night court schedule. You may need to sign up in advance.
Night court handles the same matters as day court. You can appear for arraignments or trials. The judge hears cases just like during regular hours. Bring all your paperwork and be ready to explain your situation. Arrive early because sessions start on time.
Metropolitan Traffic Courthouse
The main traffic courthouse for Bakersfield is at three one three one Arrow Street. This location handles most traffic citations issued in the city. The building focuses on traffic cases exclusively. The phone number is six six one six one zero seven zero zero zero. Call during business hours if you have questions about your case.
If you need to pay collections on an old case, the Revenue Recovery office is at five five five five California Avenue Suite one hundred. The phone there is six six one six one zero seven five zero zero. This office handles cases that went to collections due to missed deadlines or unpaid balances. You must deal with collections before the DMV will remove a hold on your license.
Pay Bakersfield Traffic Fines
Pay online through the Kern County court website. The site accepts credit cards and debit cards. There may be a convenience fee for online payment. You can also pay by mail. Send a check or money order with your citation number written on it. Mail it to the address on your ticket or reminder notice.
The statewide ability to pay program helps people with low income. Visit mycitations.courts.ca.gov to see if you qualify. The system asks about your income and whether you receive public benefits. If you meet the guidelines, the court may reduce your fine. This program has helped many California residents who could not afford to pay standard traffic fines.
Scam Warning
The court does not send texts asking for payment. This is a common scam. If you get a text or call demanding immediate payment, do not respond. The court only contacts you by official mail. They will never ask for payment over the phone or by text message. If you are unsure whether a notice is real, call the court directly at the number on the official website.
Kern County Superior Court
For complete details about traffic court in Kern County, including all courthouse locations, hours, fees, and procedures, visit the county traffic court page.