Long Beach Traffic Court
Traffic court cases in Long Beach get filed with Los Angeles County Superior Court. The city has no separate traffic court system. All citations issued in Long Beach city limits go to the county for processing. Los Angeles County runs one of the largest court systems in the country. They handle over one million new traffic citations every year. Long Beach tickets go through the same process as tickets from other cities in the county. You can search for case info online or contact the court by phone to check your citation status.
Long Beach Traffic Court Quick Facts
Which Court Handles Long Beach Citations
Los Angeles County Superior Court processes every traffic ticket issued in Long Beach. This applies to all cities in California. No city court hears traffic cases. When you get a ticket in Long Beach, the officer files it with the county. The clerk enters it into the case system. This takes time to complete.
Most tickets show up in the system within three to four weeks. Some take longer. Do not call the court right after you get your ticket. Wait at least two weeks. The court has not received it yet in most cases. If three weeks pass and your case does not appear online, then you should call. The court website is lacourt.org and has details about traffic matters throughout Los Angeles County.
Los Angeles County has sixteen different traffic court locations. Your citation shows which one handles your case. This depends on where the violation happened. Some courts serve specific cities. Others cover larger areas. Long Beach residents typically go to one of the courts that serves the southern part of the county. The location assigned to your case is on the ticket. You must use that courthouse if you need to appear in person for any hearing or arraignment in California.
The date on your ticket is not a hearing date. It is your deadline to take action. You do not show up on that date. You respond by that date. Your options include paying the fine, asking for traffic school if you qualify, or requesting a trial. Each option has its own rules and deadlines in Los Angeles County California.
Search Long Beach Traffic Cases
Los Angeles County uses an online system for case searches. You can look up cases by name or case number. The system shows basic information for free. Viewing or downloading documents costs extra. Name searches cost four dollars and seventy five cents per name. Document fees vary based on page count. One to five pages cost one dollar per page. Six or more pages cost forty cents per page. The max fee per document is forty dollars in Los Angeles County.
Go to the court website to access the online portal. The FAQs page at lacourt.org/paos/v2public/faq explains how the system works and what info you can find. The site lets you search criminal cases from nineteen eighty for felonies and from nineteen eighty eight for misdemeanors. Traffic cases fall under the misdemeanor search if they are criminal violations. Most traffic tickets are infractions and show up in a different database.
The state court system maintains helpful resources at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic for all California traffic matters. This page covers what to do when you get a ticket. It explains options like paying, fighting, or going to traffic school. It also warns about scams. The court will never text, call, or email you asking for payment info. Do not click links or give personal info if someone contacts you claiming to be from the court in California.
If your ticket is old, the court may not have it online. Los Angeles County keeps records for different time periods. Felony cases from nineteen eighty onward are in the system. Misdemeanor cases from nineteen eighty eight to now are available. Traffic infractions usually stay on file for three years after the case closes. Older records may be archived or destroyed. Contact the clerk office if you need info about an old case that does not show up in the online search.
After You Get a Ticket in Long Beach
The court mails a reminder notice to you before your deadline. This notice lists your options and shows how much you owe. Bail is the amount you pay if you plead guilty or no contest. The notice tells you if traffic school is available for your violation. Not all tickets qualify for school. Read the notice carefully to see what applies to your case in California.
You do not need to wait for this notice to arrive. Failure to receive mail does not excuse you from the deadline on your ticket. The court makes this clear on their website. The appear by date is binding whether you get a notice or not. If you want to handle your case early, search online or call the court. Do not rely on the postal service to get you the info on time in Los Angeles County.
Missing the deadline causes serious problems. The court adds a civil assessment. This is a penalty of one hundred to three hundred dollars on top of your fine. The DMV puts a hold on your license. You cannot renew your car registration until you clear the hold. These issues are easy to avoid. Just respond before the deadline passes. Even if you need more time, ask for an extension before your original due date in California.
Traffic School for Long Beach Tickets
Traffic school prevents a conviction from going on your public DMV record. Your insurance company cannot see it. This keeps your rates from going up. You must meet certain rules to use traffic school. First, you cannot have gone to school for another ticket in the past eighteen months. Second, the violation must be a one point offense under state law. Third, you cannot have been driving a commercial vehicle when you got the ticket in California.
Your reminder notice tells you if you are eligible. If school is an option, you must choose it before your deadline. Once the deadline passes, you lose the chance to use traffic school for that violation. You pay the full bail amount plus a fee to the court. Then you pay the traffic school itself. Online schools typically charge twenty to fifty dollars. Your total cost is bail plus court fee plus school fee in Los Angeles County.
After the court approves your traffic school request, you have a set time to complete the course. Most courts give you sixty days. Pick a school from the approved list on the DMV website. Most people choose online schools because you can work at your own pace. When you finish, the school sends proof to the court. The court reports it to the DMV as confidential. Remember the eighteen month rule. If you get another ticket during that time, you cannot use school again and the second ticket goes on your public record in California.
Some violations do not qualify for traffic school no matter what. Speeding more than twenty five miles per hour over the limit makes you ineligible. Alcohol or drug related violations do not qualify. Failure to appear charges cannot be handled with traffic school. Commercial vehicle violations are excluded. Check your reminder notice or call the court to confirm if your specific ticket qualifies in Los Angeles County California.
Courthouses Serving Long Beach
Los Angeles County operates sixteen traffic court locations. Long Beach residents typically use the courthouse assigned on their citation. Your ticket shows which location handles your case. This depends on where the violation occurred. You must go to the correct courthouse if you need to appear in person. The wrong location cannot help you with a case assigned elsewhere in the county.
Each courthouse has its own hours and procedures. Some handle only traffic matters. Others have traffic divisions within larger courthouses that also handle criminal and civil cases. Check the county court website for addresses, phone numbers, and directions. The site also shows which areas each courthouse serves. This helps you find the right place for your specific case in California.
Most people handle their traffic cases without ever going to the courthouse. You can pay online, request traffic school online, and even have a trial by written declaration. This option lets you submit your defense in writing. The officer also submits a written statement. The judge reviews both and makes a decision. You do not have to take time off work or find parking at the courthouse in Los Angeles County.
How to Pay Long Beach Traffic Fines
You can pay traffic fines online through the court website. Credit cards and debit cards are accepted. There may be a convenience fee for online payments. Check the payment page to see if fees apply. You can also pay by mail. Send a check or money order to the address on your citation or reminder notice. Write your case number on the payment in California.
If you cannot afford to pay the full amount at once, ask about a payment plan. The court reviews your income and sets up monthly payments. There may be a setup fee for the plan. But spreading out payments makes fines easier to manage for many people. Another option is community service. The court assigns a dollar value per hour of work. You complete approved volunteer work to reduce your fine in Los Angeles County.
The court participates in the statewide ability to pay program. Go to mycitations.courts.ca.gov if you receive public benefits or have low income. The system asks about your financial situation. If you qualify, the court may reduce your total fine. This program helps many California residents who cannot afford to pay standard amounts set by the uniform bail schedule.
Legal Help in Long Beach
Traffic cases are usually simple enough to handle on your own. Most people do not hire a lawyer for basic infractions. But some situations benefit from legal help. Misdemeanor traffic charges carry potential jail time. Commercial drivers face license consequences. Multiple violations in a short time can lead to serious penalties. A lawyer may help in these cases.
You can find traffic lawyers through the California State Bar. Their website has a lawyer referral service. You enter your city and the type of case. The system shows lawyers who handle traffic matters in your area. Many offer a free or low cost initial consultation. This lets you discuss your case and decide if you need to hire someone in California.
Other Major Cities in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County includes many large cities. All use the same Superior Court system for traffic cases. These cities also have traffic tickets processed by the county:
Los Angeles | Torrance | Pasadena | Pomona | Santa Clarita
Los Angeles County Superior Court
For complete information about traffic court in Los Angeles County, including all courthouse locations, fees, and procedures, visit the county traffic court page: