Modesto Traffic Court Records
All traffic tickets in Modesto are processed by Stanislaus County Superior Court. The city has no separate traffic court. Citations issued within Modesto city limits go to the county for filing and case management. The main traffic court is at two two six zero Floyd Avenue in Modesto. You can call them at two zero nine five three zero three one zero zero and press one for traffic matters. Most services are available online through the county portal. You can search cases, pay fines, request traffic school, or schedule appointments without visiting the courthouse in person.
Modesto Traffic Court Quick Facts
Stanislaus County Handles Modesto Tickets
Stanislaus County Superior Court processes every traffic citation in Modesto. This applies throughout California. No city runs its own traffic court. When you get a ticket in Modesto, the officer files it with Stanislaus County. The clerk enters it into their case system. This takes time to complete in California.
Most tickets show up in the online system within two to four weeks. Do not call the court right after you get your ticket. They do not have it yet. Wait at least two weeks before searching or calling. If three weeks pass and your case still does not appear, then contact the court to check on it. The court website is stanislaus.courts.ca.gov and has information about traffic matters in the county.
The traffic court is located at two two six zero Floyd Avenue in Modesto, CA nine five three five five. The phone number is two zero nine five three zero three one zero zero. Press one for traffic services. You can also email the court at Traffic.Requests@stanct.org with questions about your case. Arraignment hearings happen by appointment only. You cannot walk in for an arraignment. You must schedule ahead of time in Stanislaus County.
The date on your ticket is not a hearing date. It is your deadline to respond. You do not show up on that date. You take action by that date. Your options include paying the fine, requesting traffic school if you are eligible, or asking for a trial. Each option has specific steps you need to follow in California.
Search Modesto Traffic Cases Online
Stanislaus County uses an online portal for case searches. The portal is at stanportal.stanct.org. You can search by name or case number. The system shows basic case information. You can also view documents and make payments through the portal in California.
It takes time for citations to appear online. Allow at least two weeks from the date you got your ticket. The court needs time to receive the citation from the officer and enter it into the system. If you search too early, the case will not be there yet. Check again after a few weeks if your case does not show up right away in Stanislaus County.
The portal also has information from the state court system. Go to selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic for general traffic court help in California. This site explains what to do when you get a ticket. It covers paying, fighting, or going to traffic school. It also warns about scams. The court will never text, call, or email asking for payment info. Do not click links or give personal info if someone contacts you claiming to be from the court.
Court records stay on file for different time periods. Traffic infractions usually remain for three years after the case closes. Older records may be archived or destroyed. If you need information about an old case that does not appear online, contact the clerk office directly. They can check if the file still exists in Stanislaus County California.
After You Get a Ticket
The court sends you a reminder notice before your deadline. This notice shows how much you owe and lists your options. Bail is what you pay if you plead guilty or no contest. The notice also tells you if traffic school is available for your violation. Not every ticket qualifies for school. Read the notice to see what applies to your case in California.
You do not need to wait for this notice. Failure to receive mail does not excuse you from your deadline. The appear by date on your ticket is binding. If you want to handle your case early, search online or call the court. Do not rely on the postal service to get you info on time in Stanislaus County.
Missing the deadline creates problems. The court adds a civil assessment of one hundred to three hundred dollars to your fine. The DMV puts a hold on your license. You cannot renew your vehicle registration until you clear the hold. These issues are easy to avoid. Just respond before the deadline. If you need more time, ask for an extension before your original due date passes in California.
Traffic School for Modesto Tickets
Traffic school keeps a conviction off your public DMV record. Insurance companies cannot see it. This prevents rate increases. You must meet eligibility rules. You cannot have attended school for another ticket in the past eighteen months. The violation must be a one point offense. You cannot have been in a commercial vehicle when you got the ticket in California.
Your reminder notice tells you if you qualify. If school is an option, choose it before your deadline. Once the deadline passes, you lose the chance. The court fee for traffic school in Stanislaus County is fifty two dollars. This is non refundable. You also pay the full bail amount. Then you pay the traffic school itself. Online schools usually charge twenty to fifty dollars. Your total cost is bail plus fifty two plus school fee in Stanislaus County.
After the court approves your request, you have time to complete the course. Most courts give sixty days. Pick a school from the approved list on the DMV website. Online schools are popular because you work at your own pace. When you finish, the school sends completion 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 in California.
Some violations never qualify for traffic school. Speeding more than twenty five miles per hour over the limit makes you ineligible. Alcohol or drug violations do not qualify. Failure to appear charges are excluded. Commercial vehicle violations are not eligible. Check your notice or call the court to confirm if your ticket qualifies in Stanislaus County California.
Modesto Traffic Courthouse
The Stanislaus County traffic court is at two two six zero Floyd Avenue, Modesto, CA nine five three five five. This is where you go if you need to appear in person. The phone number is two zero nine five three zero three one zero zero. Press one when you call for traffic matters. Office hours are Monday through Friday during normal business hours in California.
Most people handle traffic cases without visiting the courthouse. You can pay online. You can request traffic school online. You can even have a trial by written declaration. This lets you submit your defense in writing. The officer also submits a statement. The judge reviews both and makes a decision. You avoid taking time off work or finding parking at the courthouse in Stanislaus County.
If you do need to appear in person, remember that arraignments are by appointment only. You cannot walk in. Schedule your appointment through the court website or by calling the clerk office. This policy helps the court manage its calendar and reduces wait times for everyone in California.
How to Pay Modesto Traffic Fines
Pay fines online through the court portal at stanportal.stanct.org. Credit and debit cards work. There may be a convenience fee for online payments. 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 in full, ask about a payment plan. The court reviews your income and sets up monthly payments. There may be a setup fee for the plan. Spreading out payments helps many people manage fines. Another option is community service. The court assigns a dollar value per hour. You do approved volunteer work to reduce your fine in Stanislaus County.
The court participates in the statewide ability to pay program. Visit 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 fine. This program helps many California residents who cannot afford standard bail amounts.
If your case goes to collections, Stanislaus County uses Linebarger law firm. Their phone number is eight four four five six six six five five eight. Try to resolve your case before it reaches collections. Once a case goes to collections, additional fees get added and the process becomes more complicated in California.
Fix It Tickets in Modesto
Some tickets are for correctable violations. These are called fix it tickets. Common examples include broken tail lights, expired registration, or missing proof of insurance. You must fix the problem and show proof to the court. The proof of correction fee in Stanislaus County is twenty five dollars. Some cases also have a ten dollar administrative fee in California.
Get the problem fixed as soon as possible. Then have a law enforcement officer or authorized person verify the correction. They sign your citation showing the problem is fixed. Submit this to the court along with the fee. Do this before your deadline. If you miss the deadline, the court may add penalties in Stanislaus County California.
Other Cities in Stanislaus County
Stanislaus County includes other cities beyond Modesto. All use the same Superior Court system for traffic cases. If you got a ticket in another Stanislaus County city, the same court handles it. Check the county traffic court page for complete information about all courthouse locations and services in California.
Stanislaus County Superior Court
For complete information about traffic court in Stanislaus County, including courthouse locations, fees, and procedures, visit the county traffic court page: