Modoc County Traffic Court
Modoc County Superior Court processes all traffic citations issued in the county. The courthouse sits in Alturas and serves the entire county. Most traffic business can be handled by phone or online without visiting the courthouse. You can pay fines, request traffic school, or schedule a trial through remote services. The court is small with limited staff but offers personal service to help resolve your case. Wait four to six weeks after receiving your ticket for it to appear in the court system. This allows the officer time to submit the citation and gives staff time to enter it in Modoc County California.
Modoc County Traffic Court Quick Facts
Contact Modoc Superior Court
The courthouse address is 205 South East Street in Alturas. The zip code is 96101. Main phone number is five three zero two three three six two zero five. Office hours are eight to four on weekdays. The court closes for lunch from noon to one. Call during business hours to speak with staff about your case or payment options.
Modoc County is one of the smallest courts in California. Staff know the community and try to help everyone who calls or visits. Be patient as they may be assisting others when you contact them. Bring your citation with you if you visit in person. It has the information staff need to look up your case quickly in Modoc County.
The court website is at modoc.courts.ca.gov. The site has information about traffic procedures, forms, and fee schedules. You can find answers to common questions without calling or visiting. The site also has links to online payment services and the case search portal in California.
Look Up Your Traffic Case
Modoc County uses the nCourt system for online case access. This is the same platform used by several small California counties. Visit the court website and look for the online case search link. Enter your citation number to find your case. The system shows your charges, total due, and deadline to respond.
Wait at least thirty days before trying to search your case online. Citations need time to process. The officer must file the ticket with the court. Then staff enter it into the computer system. If you search too soon, it may not appear yet. Call the court if more than two months have passed and you still cannot find your case in Modoc County California.
For records requests, contact the clerk office. Record searches over ten minutes cost fifteen dollars. Copies are fifty cents per page. Certified copies cost forty dollars plus copy fees. Submit your request in writing with payment. The court processes requests and mails documents within fifteen business days in California.
How Much Traffic Tickets Cost
Modoc County follows the state uniform bail schedule. Base fines are set by the Judicial Council. Many fees then get added to the base amount. State penalty assessments, court fees, and county charges all increase the total. A simple speeding ticket often costs two to three hundred dollars after all fees in Modoc County.
Traffic school costs fifty two dollars as a court admin fee. You also pay the full bail amount listed on your citation. Then you pay the traffic school provider. Most online schools charge twenty to sixty dollars. Your total cost can reach four to five hundred dollars depending on your violation. Many people choose this option to avoid points on their record and insurance rate increases in California.
Fix it tickets require proof of correction and a twenty five dollar fee. Show you fixed the problem by bringing documentation to the court. Common corrections include proof of insurance, valid registration, or equipment repairs. The court dismisses the violation once you pay the fee and prove you corrected it in Modoc County.
Payment plans may be available if you cannot pay the full amount at once. Call the court to discuss your situation. They review your finances and set monthly payments you can afford. A setup fee may apply. Make all payments 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 Modoc County. Your courtesy notice tells you if you are eligible. Request traffic school before your appearance deadline. After that date you lose the option. California limits traffic school to once every eighteen months. If you attended for another ticket in the past eighteen months, you cannot use it again.
Some violations do not qualify for traffic school. Speeding over twenty five miles per hour above the limit cannot use traffic school. Any alcohol or drug offense does not qualify. Reckless driving, commercial vehicle violations, and suspended license charges also cannot use traffic school. The court decides if your specific violation is eligible in California.
After approval, pick a school from the DMV approved list. Go to the California DMV website to find licensed schools. Most people choose online schools for convenience. You have sixty days to complete the course. The school sends your completion certificate to the court. The court reports it to DMV as confidential. This keeps it off your public record so insurance companies cannot see it in Modoc County.
But DMV still tracks it for the eighteen month rule. If you get another ticket and try to use traffic school again within eighteen months, they will reject it. The time period runs from the violation date of your first ticket to the violation date of your new ticket. Completion dates and court dates do not matter for this calculation in California.
Nearby California Counties
Each county operates its own traffic court. If your ticket was issued outside Modoc County, contact that county. Check these nearby counties: