Lake County Traffic Records
Lake County Superior Court manages all traffic cases for violations that occur within county lines. The court sits in Lakeport and serves the entire county. You can pay fines, ask for traffic school, or set trial dates by phone or online. Most traffic matters do not need an in person visit. The court staff can help with case lookups and explain your options when you call. Processing takes four to six weeks after a citation is issued in Lake County California.
Lake County Traffic Court Quick Facts
Lake County Court Contact
The Lake County Superior Court operates from one site in Lakeport. This courthouse handles all traffic citations issued throughout the county. You can reach the court by phone during business hours. Staff answer questions about fines, due dates, and how to resolve your case.
Court address is 255 North Forbes Street in Lakeport. The zip code is 95453. Main phone number is seven zero seven two six three two three seven four. Office hours run from eight in the morning to four in the afternoon on weekdays. The court closes for lunch from noon to one. Arrive early if you plan to visit in person so you have time to get through security and find the right window.
Online services are available through the court website. You can make payments any time of day using a credit card or electronic check. A small fee applies for online transactions. The court uses the ePay-IT system for web payments. This service lets you search your case by citation number and see your balance. You can also set up a payment plan online if you cannot pay the full amount at once in Lake County California.
Search Traffic Cases Online
Lake County provides online case lookup through its payment portal. Visit the court website and look for the traffic payments link. You will need your citation number to search. The system shows your total due and lists each charge. It also tells you if you are eligible for traffic school.
The main court website is at lake.courts.ca.gov. Look for the Traffic section in the divisions menu. That page has links to online services and forms. The payment portal is at lake.epay-it.com. You can pay there twenty four hours a day. Keep your confirmation number after you pay. It serves as proof of payment if questions come up later.
Processing times can vary. Allow at least thirty days from the date you got your ticket before trying to look it up online. The officer has to submit the citation to the court. Then staff must enter it into the system. If you try to search too soon, the case may not show up yet. If more than six weeks have passed and you still cannot find your case, call the court to check on the status in Lake County.
Traffic Fines and Payment Options
Lake County follows the California uniform bail schedule. Base fines vary by violation. State and county fees then get added on top. A typical speeding ticket might cost two hundred to four hundred dollars total.
Traffic school costs extra. The court charges fifty two dollars as an admin fee. You also pay the full bail amount. Then you pay the traffic school itself, which runs twenty to sixty dollars. Total cost for traffic school can reach five hundred dollars or more depending on your violation. But many drivers choose this option to keep points off their record and avoid insurance increases in California.
Payment plans are available if you need more time. Contact the court before your due date to ask about installments. They look at your income and set monthly payments you can handle. There is usually a small setup fee for payment plans. Make your payments on time each month to avoid default. If you miss payments, the court can add penalties and suspend your license in Lake County California.
Proof of correction costs twenty five dollars per violation. This applies to fix it tickets where you show the problem was repaired. Bring proof to the court or mail it with the fee. Common corrections include showing proof of insurance, registration, or equipment repairs. The court will dismiss the citation once you pay the fee and show you fixed the issue.
If you cannot afford to pay, ask about the ability to pay program. This state program can reduce fines based on income. You may qualify if you get public benefits or earn below certain levels. Visit mycitations.courts.ca.gov to apply online. The court will review your application and let you know if you qualify for a reduction or alternative like community service.
Traffic School Eligibility
Most one point violations qualify for traffic school in Lake County. Your courtesy notice will say if you are eligible. You must request traffic school before your deadline. Once that date passes, the option is gone. The eighteen month rule applies. If you went to traffic school for another ticket in the past eighteen months, you cannot use it again.
Some tickets never qualify for traffic school. Speeding more than twenty five miles per hour over the limit is not eligible. Any alcohol or drug related offense cannot use traffic school. Reckless driving and commercial vehicle violations also do not qualify. If you were in a crash when you got the ticket, that may disqualify you as well. The court makes the final call on eligibility in California.
After the court approves your request, pick a school from the DMV approved list. Most people use online schools. You have sixty days to finish the course. The school sends your completion to the court. The court then reports it to DMV as a confidential conviction. This means insurance companies cannot see it. But the DMV still counts it if you try to use traffic school again within eighteen months in Lake County.
Nearby California Counties
If your ticket was issued in a different county, contact that county court. Lake County only handles violations that occurred within its boundaries. Check these nearby counties:
Mendocino County | Colusa County | Glenn County | Napa County | Yolo County | Sonoma County