Traffic Court in Marin County
Marin County Superior Court processes all traffic citations issued in the county. The courthouse sits in San Rafael and serves all of Marin County. You can pay traffic fines, ask for traffic school, or set a trial date through the court website or by phone. Most traffic matters do not require a court appearance. The online portal provides access to case information around the clock. It may take four to six weeks for your citation to appear in the system after you receive it. Officers must submit tickets and court staff must enter them before they show up online in Marin County California.
Marin County Traffic Court Quick Facts
Marin Superior Court Information
The Marin County courthouse is at 3501 Civic Center Drive in San Rafael. The zip is 94903. Phone number is four one five four four four seven two five six. Traffic window hours are eight thirty to four on weekdays. The court closes from noon to one for lunch. Arrive early if you plan to visit in person so you have time to park and go through security.
Online services include case search and payment options. The court website is marincourt.org. The traffic section has links to the online portal and forms. You can search cases, pay fines, and request traffic school through the website. The system accepts credit cards and electronic checks. A convenience fee applies to online payments in Marin County.
Mail payments to Marin County Superior Court, Traffic Division, 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 128, San Rafael CA 94903. Include your citation number on your check or money order. Write it clearly so staff can apply your payment to the right case. Allow extra time for mail processing. Payments can take up to ten business days to post to your account after the court receives them in California.
Search Traffic Cases Online
Marin County offers a traffic case search portal. Visit the court website and look for the traffic portal link. Enter your citation number to pull up your case. The system shows your charges, total due, and due date. It also displays whether you qualify for traffic school.
The portal lets you make payments and request extensions. You can also submit trial by written declaration through the online system. Follow the prompts and provide the required information. Keep your confirmation number after completing any transaction. This serves as proof of your request or payment if questions come up later in Marin County California.
Remote appearances are available via Zoom for many traffic matters. Check the court website for meeting information and instructions. You can attend your hearing from home or work if you have internet access. This saves time and avoids the need to take off work or arrange childcare. The court still requires you to schedule your appearance in advance.
EFiling is mandatory in Marin County for attorneys. Self represented parties can file documents electronically but are not required to do so. If you choose to efile, follow the instructions on the court website. Most traffic matters do not require filing documents beyond the initial citation response. The court handles most traffic issues through simple online forms or phone calls.
Cost of Traffic Tickets
Marin County uses the state uniform bail schedule for traffic violations. Base fines start as low as thirty five dollars for minor infractions. But many fees get added on top. Court fees, state penalty assessments, and county charges increase the total significantly. A typical speeding ticket costs two hundred to four hundred dollars after all fees are added in California.
Traffic school adds to your total cost. The court charges fifty two dollars as an administrative fee. You also pay the full bail amount listed on your citation. Then the traffic school itself charges a fee, usually twenty to sixty dollars for online courses. Your total expense can reach five hundred dollars or more. Many people choose this option to keep points off their driving record and prevent insurance rate increases.
Proof of correction costs twenty five dollars per correctable violation. This applies to fix it tickets where you show you repaired the issue. Common examples include expired registration, proof of insurance, or broken equipment. Show proof to the court along with the twenty five dollar fee. The court dismisses the violation once you prove you corrected it in Marin County.
Payment plans are available if you need more time to pay. Contact the court before your due date to set one up. The court reviews your financial situation and sets monthly payments you can handle. A small setup fee may apply. Make each payment on time to avoid default. Missing payments can lead to additional penalties and license suspension in California.
Traffic School Rules and Eligibility
Most one point traffic violations qualify for traffic school in Marin County. Your courtesy notice indicates if you are eligible. You must request traffic school before your appearance deadline. After that date, the option is no longer available. California limits traffic school to once every eighteen months. If you attended traffic school for a different ticket in the past eighteen months, you cannot use it again.
Some violations never qualify for traffic school. Speeding more than twenty five miles per hour over the posted limit does not qualify. Any violation involving alcohol or drugs cannot use traffic school. Reckless driving, commercial vehicle violations, and driving on a suspended license also do not qualify. The court makes the final determination on eligibility.
After the court approves your request, choose a school from the DMV approved list. Visit the California DMV website to find licensed traffic schools. Most people select online schools for convenience. You have sixty days to complete the course after approval. The school sends your completion certificate directly to the court. The court then reports it to DMV as a confidential conviction in Marin County California.
Confidential convictions do not appear on your public driving record. Insurance companies cannot see them when they review your record. But DMV tracks them internally for the eighteen month rule. If you get another ticket and try to use traffic school again within eighteen months, DMV will deny it. The eighteen month period runs from violation date to violation date, not from completion date or court date.
Neighboring California Counties
Traffic tickets from other counties must be resolved with that county court. Marin County only handles violations that occurred within its borders. Check these nearby counties: