San Francisco Traffic Court Cases
San Francisco operates as both a city and a county in California. Traffic tickets issued within city limits go to San Francisco Superior Court. There is no separate city traffic court. The county handles all citations through its traffic division. You can pay fines, request traffic school, or contest tickets through the court system. Most services are available online at the court website. Walk in services are limited to certain hours. The Hall of Justice and Civic Center Courthouse both process traffic matters for residents and visitors in San Francisco.
San Francisco Traffic Court Quick Facts
How San Francisco Processes Traffic Tickets
San Francisco is unique in California. It functions as both a city and a county. This means San Francisco Superior Court handles all traffic citations. No other court gets involved. When you receive a ticket in San Francisco, that case goes straight to the county system. The court clerk enters it into their database within four to six weeks of the citation date.
The court mails a reminder notice before your due date. This notice shows the bail amount and lists your options. You do not have to wait for this notice to take action. The date on your ticket is binding even if you never get mail. The court says so on their website at sfsuperiorcourt.org. Failure to receive a notice does not excuse missing your deadline in California.
Most people handle their traffic tickets without going to court. You can pay online. You can request traffic school online if eligible. You can even contest your ticket through trial by written declaration. Mail in your statement and evidence. The judge reviews everything and makes a decision. You get the result by mail weeks later. This saves a trip to the courthouse in San Francisco.
Traffic Court Locations in San Francisco
Two courthouse locations handle traffic matters in the city. The Hall of Justice sits at 850 Bryant Street in Room 145. Hours run from eight thirty in the morning to four in the afternoon. The office closes from noon to one for lunch. This location handles most walk in services for traffic cases.
The Civic Center Courthouse stands at 400 McAllister Street. Traffic Court operates in Department 218 on the second floor. Room 103 handles some traffic services at this location. Check which courthouse serves your needs before visiting. Some services are only available at one location. The court website lists what each building offers for traffic matters in California.
Parking can be tough near both courthouses. Public transit works better for most people. BART and Muni serve both areas well. Plan extra time if you need to visit in person. Lines can be long during peak hours in San Francisco.
Search Traffic Cases Online
San Francisco uses nCourt for case management and online access. You can search for your case on the court website. Enter your name or case number to pull up information. Basic details are free to view. Some documents cost money to download in California.
Allow three weeks after your citation date before searching online. The court needs time to enter new tickets into the system. If you search too early, you will not find anything. Wait a bit longer then try again. Or call the court to ask if they have received your citation from the issuing agency in San Francisco.
The court keeps traffic infraction records for three years. Misdemeanor traffic cases stay on file for five years. DUI records remain for ten years. After these periods, the court may destroy old files. Contact the clerk office directly if you need information about an older case. They can check if archived records still exist in California.
Paying Your Traffic Fine
You can pay online through the court website. Credit cards and debit cards both work. Phone payments are available at 415-551-8550. The phone line operates Monday through Friday from four in the morning to nine at night Pacific time. Weekend hours run from nine to six. A convenience fee may apply to card payments in San Francisco.
Mail payments go to the address on your reminder notice. Use a check or money order. Write your case number on the payment. This helps the clerk apply it to the right case. Allow extra time for mail processing. Payments can take days to post to your account in California.
If you cannot afford the full amount, ask about payment plans. The court reviews your income and sets monthly installments. There may be a setup fee. Community service is another option. The court values volunteer work at thirty one dollars per hour. You work off your fine through approved organizations. This helps many people who struggle to pay large fines in San Francisco.
Traffic School in San Francisco
Traffic school keeps a conviction off your DMV record. This stops your insurance rates from going up. You must meet eligibility rules. First, you cannot have attended school for another ticket in the past eighteen months. Second, your violation must be a one point offense. Third, you cannot have been driving a commercial vehicle when cited.
The court charges fifty two dollars to process your traffic school request. You also pay the full bail amount. Then the traffic school itself charges a separate fee. Most online schools cost twenty to fifty dollars. Your total expense is bail plus fifty two plus school fee. Complete the course within the deadline the court gives you in California.
Pick a school from the DMV approved list. Most people choose online courses. You work at your own pace. When done, the school sends completion to the court. The court reports it to DMV as confidential. Your insurance company cannot see it. Just remember the eighteen month rule. If you get another ticket during that time, you lose traffic school eligibility for the new citation in San Francisco.
Financial Assistance Programs
San Francisco participates in the statewide ability to pay program. Go to mycitations.courts.ca.gov if you have low income or receive public benefits. The system asks about your financial situation. Qualifying residents may get fine reductions. This program helps many California residents who cannot afford standard amounts.
The court also offers payment plans and community service options. These give you ways to resolve your case without immediate full payment. Contact the traffic clerk office to discuss which programs fit your situation. Staff can explain requirements and help you apply in San Francisco.
After Getting a Ticket
The court sends a reminder notice weeks before your due date. This shows what you owe and your available options. The notice tells you if traffic school is possible for your violation. Not all tickets qualify for school. Review the notice carefully to understand your choices in California.
If you miss your deadline, penalties get added. A civil assessment of up to three hundred dollars can be imposed. The DMV puts a hold on your license. You cannot renew registration until the hold clears. These problems are avoidable. Just respond before your deadline. Request an extension if you need more time to decide what to do in San Francisco.
Other Major California Cities
San Francisco neighbors several large cities that use different county courts for traffic matters:
San Francisco County Superior Court
For complete information about traffic court in San Francisco County, including detailed courthouse information, fees, and procedures, visit the county traffic court page: