Ontario Traffic Court Records
Traffic citations in Ontario are processed by San Bernardino County Superior Court. The city does not have its own traffic court system. All tickets issued in Ontario go to the county for case filing and management. San Bernardino County uses the Tyler Technologies Odyssey case management system which was implemented in two thousand sixteen. You can search cases online, pay fines, and request traffic school through the county portal. Ontario tickets are typically handled at the Rancho Cucamonga courthouse which serves the western part of San Bernardino County including Ontario and surrounding cities.
Ontario Traffic Court Quick Facts
San Bernardino County Handles Ontario Tickets
San Bernardino County Superior Court processes all traffic tickets for Ontario. This is standard across California. Cities do not operate their own traffic courts. When you get a ticket in Ontario, it gets filed with San Bernardino County. The officer submits the citation. The clerk enters it into the case system in California.
This process takes time. Most tickets appear in the system within two to four weeks. Do not call immediately after getting your ticket. The court does not have it yet. Wait at least two weeks. If three weeks pass and your case still does not show up online, then contact the court to check on it. The court website is sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov and has details about traffic procedures throughout the county.
The date on your citation is not a hearing date. It is the deadline for you to take action. You do not appear in court on that date. You respond by that date. Your options include paying the fine, requesting traffic school if you are eligible, or asking for a trial. The court website explains each option and shows the steps you need to follow in San Bernardino County.
Ontario tickets are typically handled at the Rancho Cucamonga courthouse. The address is eight three zero three Haven Avenue. The phone number is nine zero nine three five zero nine seven six one. This courthouse serves the western part of San Bernardino County. Your citation shows which courthouse handles your case. You must use that location if you need to appear in person in California.
Search Ontario Traffic Cases Online
San Bernardino County uses Tyler Technologies Odyssey for case management. You can search cases online at cap.sb-court.org. The portal lets you search by name or case number. Basic case information is available. Viewing or downloading documents costs fifty cents per page for remote access in California.
It takes time for citations to appear in the online system. Allow at least two to three weeks from the date you got your ticket. The court needs time to receive the citation from law enforcement and enter it into their records. 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 San Bernardino County.
The state court system provides helpful information at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic for all California traffic matters. This page explains what to do when you get a ticket. It covers paying, contesting, or attending traffic school. It also has a scam alert. The court will never text, call, or email you asking for payment information. Do not click links or give personal details if someone contacts you claiming to be from the court in California.
San Bernardino County implemented the Odyssey system in two thousand sixteen. Cases from before that date may be in a different system or format. Court records stay on file for different time periods. Traffic infractions typically 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 in California.
After You Get a Ticket in Ontario
The court mails a reminder notice before your deadline. This notice is also called a courtesy notice. It shows your bail amount and lists your options. Bail is what 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 to see what applies to your case in California.
Do not wait for this notice to take action. Failure to receive the notice does not excuse you from the deadline on your ticket. The court makes this clear. The appear by date is binding whether you get mail or not. If you want to handle your case before the notice arrives, search online or call the court. Do not rely on the postal service to get you information on time in San Bernardino County.
Missing your deadline causes problems. The court adds a civil assessment to your fine. This penalty can be one hundred to three hundred dollars. The DMV puts a hold on your license. You cannot renew your vehicle registration until you clear the hold. These consequences are avoidable. Just respond before the deadline passes. If you need more time, request an extension before your original due date in California.
Traffic School for Ontario Tickets
Traffic school prevents a conviction from going on your public DMV record. Insurance companies cannot see it. This keeps your rates from going up. You must meet eligibility requirements. 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 shows if you qualify. If traffic school is an option, choose it before your deadline. Once the deadline passes, the option disappears. The court fee for traffic school is typically fifty two dollars. 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 court fee plus school fee in San Bernardino 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. But the eighteen month rule still applies. If you get another ticket during that period, 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 specific ticket qualifies in San Bernardino County California.
Courthouses Serving Ontario
San Bernardino County has multiple courthouse locations with traffic divisions. Ontario tickets typically go to the Rancho Cucamonga courthouse at eight three zero three Haven Avenue. The phone number is nine zero nine three five zero nine seven six one. Other traffic court locations in the county include Victorville, Fontana, and San Bernardino. Your citation shows which courthouse handles your case in California.
Many 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 dealing with courthouse parking in San Bernardino County.
If you do need to appear in person, go to the courthouse assigned on your citation. Bring your citation and any documents related to your case. Arrive early to go through security. Parking is available at most courthouse locations. Check the court website for specific directions and parking information for your assigned courthouse in California.
Paying Your Fine
Pay fines online through the court portal at cap.sb-court.org. Credit and debit cards work. There may be a convenience fee for online payments. Check the payment page for fee information. 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 San Bernardino 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 set by the uniform penalty schedule.
Traffic Records and Your License
Court records and DMV records are separate. The court handles your case. The DMV keeps your driving record. When you get convicted of a traffic violation, the court reports it to the DMV. The DMV adds points to your record. Points stay for three to ten years depending on the violation. Too many points can lead to license suspension in California.
You can request your driving record from the DMV. Online requests cost two dollars. Mail requests cost five dollars. The DMV website at dmv.ca.gov explains how to order your record. This shows what violations are on file and how many points you have. Check it regularly to know your status in California.
Traffic school prevents a conviction from appearing on your public record. The DMV still knows about it. But they mark it as confidential. Insurance companies cannot see it when they check your record. That is why traffic school saves money on insurance premiums in San Bernardino County California.
Legal Resources in Ontario
Most traffic cases are simple enough to handle on your own. But some situations benefit from legal help. Misdemeanor traffic charges carry potential jail time. Multiple violations can lead to serious penalties. Commercial drivers face license consequences. A lawyer may help in these cases. You can find traffic lawyers through the California State Bar website in California.
San Bernardino County also has legal aid organizations that help low income residents. These groups provide free or low cost legal assistance. They may be able to help you understand your options if you cannot afford a private lawyer in San Bernardino County California.
Other Major Cities in San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County includes several large cities. All use the same Superior Court system for traffic cases. These nearby cities also have tickets processed by the county:
San Bernardino County Superior Court
For complete information about traffic court in San Bernardino County, including all courthouse locations, fees, and procedures, visit the county traffic court page: