Mendocino County Traffic Cases

Mendocino County Superior Court operates two locations for traffic matters. The main courthouse is in Ukiah. A second branch serves Fort Bragg and the coastal region. You can handle most traffic business without a court appearance. Pay fines, request traffic school, or schedule hearings by phone or online. The court website provides forms and information about your options. Allow thirty to forty five days for your citation to appear in the system after you receive it. This gives the officer time to file the ticket and gives staff time to enter it in Mendocino County California.

Mendocino Court Locations

The Ukiah courthouse is at 100 North State Street in Room 108. This is the main location for most traffic business. Phone number is seven zero seven four six three four six six zero. Office hours are eight to four on weekdays. The court closes from noon to one for lunch. Your citation tells you which courthouse handles your case based on where the violation occurred in Mendocino County.

The Fort Bragg branch sits at 700 South Franklin Street. This location serves the coastal area. It has limited hours compared to Ukiah. Call ahead if you plan to visit Fort Bragg. Some services may only be available at certain times or by appointment. Staff can tell you what services are available when you call in California.

The official Mendocino County Superior Court website at mendocino.courts.ca.gov provides information about traffic violations and court procedures. This page has links to forms and online portals where you can manage your case. The traffic division section explains your options and lists fees. You can download forms to submit by mail if you cannot visit in person.

Most people use the court website and phone services rather than visiting in person. This saves time and lets you handle your case from home or work. Online payments work around the clock. Phone services are available during business hours for questions or help in Mendocino County California.

Search Cases Online

Mendocino County uses the re:SearchCA platform for case lookup. This is a newer system that serves multiple California counties. Visit the court website and click the online case search link. Enter your citation number to find your case. The system shows charges, due dates, and amounts owed.

Processing time takes four to six weeks on average. If you search too soon, your case may not appear yet. Wait at least thirty days from when you got your ticket. If more than two months have passed and your case still does not show up, call the court. Staff can check the system and tell you the status in Mendocino County.

For records requests, contact the clerk office directly. Record searches over ten minutes cost fifteen dollars. Copies are fifty cents per page. Certified copies cost forty dollars per document plus copy fees. Allow up to thirty days for the court to process your request and mail the records to you in California.

Traffic Fine Amounts

Mendocino County follows the statewide bail schedule. Base fines are set by the Judicial Council. Many fees get added on top of the base. Court fees, state assessments, and county charges increase the total. A simple speeding ticket often costs two hundred to four hundred dollars total after all fees in Mendocino County.

Traffic school costs fifty four dollars as a court admin fee. This is slightly higher than the fifty two dollar fee in many other counties. You also pay the full bail amount. Then you pay the traffic school provider. Most online schools charge twenty to sixty dollars. Your total cost can reach five hundred dollars depending on your violation in California.

You have sixty days from your traffic school approval date to complete the course. This is standard across California. The school submits your completion certificate directly to the court. Make sure you finish on time. Late completions may not be accepted and you could lose the benefit of traffic school in Mendocino County.

Payment plans may be available for people who cannot pay the full amount. Call the court to discuss your situation. They review your finances and set up monthly installments. Make each payment on time to avoid default. Missing payments can lead to penalties and license suspension in California.

Traffic School Rules

Most one point violations qualify for traffic school in Mendocino County. Check your courtesy notice to see if you are eligible. Request traffic school before your appearance deadline. After that date the option is gone. You can only use traffic school once every eighteen months. This rule applies statewide in California.

Some violations do not qualify for traffic school. Speeding more than twenty five miles per hour over the limit cannot use traffic school. Alcohol or drug offenses do not qualify. Reckless driving and commercial vehicle violations also cannot use traffic school. The court decides if your specific violation qualifies in Mendocino County.

After approval, select a school from the DMV approved list. Visit the DMV website to find licensed schools. Most people pick online schools for convenience. Complete the course within sixty days. The school sends your certificate to the court. The court reports it to DMV as confidential so insurance companies cannot see it on your record in California.

Neighboring Counties

Traffic citations issued outside Mendocino County must be handled by that county court. Each county operates its own traffic division. Check these nearby counties:

Humboldt County | Lake County | Sonoma County | Glenn County | Trinity County