Find Traffic Records in Sacramento County

Sacramento County Superior Court eliminated all online search fees and document download charges. You can now search traffic cases and download documents without paying anything. The Traffic Division operates from the Carol Miller Justice Center at 301 Bicentennial Circle in Room 100. Call center staff answer phones from four in the morning until nine at night on weekdays. Weekend hours run from six in the morning to three in the afternoon. Night court meets on the second Wednesday of each month from five to six fifteen in the evening for people who work during the day.

Traffic Court Access in Sacramento

The Traffic Division sits inside the Carol Miller Justice Center. Most in person business happens at that location. Room 100 is where you go for window service. Hours vary so check the website before visiting. Virtual counter service runs through Zoom from Monday to Thursday between seven in the morning and five in the afternoon. You can talk to a clerk online instead of driving to the courthouse. This works well for quick questions or simple requests that do not require document submission.

California courts provide statewide traffic self-help resources that explain your options after getting a citation. These resources cover all California counties including Sacramento.

The self-help guide walks you through each option. You can learn about paying your ticket, requesting traffic school, or asking for a trial. The information applies to Sacramento County and all other California counties.

Call center hours are longer than most counties. You can reach them as early as four in the morning on weekdays. The phone number is 916-669-5712. This line handles basic questions about your case. Staff can tell you your balance, upcoming court dates, and payment options. They cannot give legal advice. For detailed questions about whether to contest your ticket or how to prepare for court, talk to a lawyer in California.

Night court helps people who work standard business hours. It meets once per month on the second Wednesday. Hours run from five to six fifteen in the evening. You must sign up in advance. Not all matters can be handled at night court. Check with the Traffic Division to confirm your issue qualifies. If you need a trial or have a complex matter, regular court hours may be required in Sacramento County.

Free Case Search and Documents

Sacramento County Superior Court stopped charging fees for online searches. This changed in recent years. Before, you paid per search. Now you can search as many times as you want without any charge. You can also download documents for free. This includes case dockets, filings, and court orders. Most other California counties still charge for these services. Sacramento is one of the few that offers free access to traffic court records online.

The online system works for most traffic cases filed in Sacramento County. You search by name or case number. Once you find your case, click to view details. The docket shows all activity in your case. You can see when the citation was filed, what hearings are scheduled, and whether any documents have been submitted. If you filed a trial by written declaration, you can check the status and download the decision when it is ready. Everything happens through the same portal with no fees.

Keep in mind that new citations take time to appear online. Wait at least two to three weeks after getting your ticket. The officer submits it to the court. Staff enter it into the system. This process is not instant. If you search too early, your case will not show up. Do not panic. Just wait a few more days and try again. Your courtesy notice will also arrive by mail with instructions on what to do next in Sacramento County California.

Payments and Collections

Unpaid traffic fines in Sacramento County go to Linebarger Goggan Blair and Sampson, LLP. This is the collection agency the court uses. You can reach them at 1-844-566-6558. Once your case goes to collections, extra fees get added. The collection agency charges for their services. Your license may already be suspended at this point. The DMV holds your registration renewal until you pay.

If you owe money on an old ticket, contact the court first. Sometimes they can recall the case from collections. You can set up a payment plan directly with the court. This saves you the collection fees. Even if the case stays with the agency, you can negotiate. Many people do not realize you can ask for reduced fees or payment arrangements. It never hurts to ask, especially if money is tight and you are trying to get right with the court in California.

For new tickets, pay by the deadline to avoid collections entirely. You can pay online through the court website. You can mail a check or money order. You can also visit the courthouse in person. Online payments post the fastest. Your DMV hold gets lifted within a day or two. Mailed payments take longer. If you need your license or registration quickly, use the online system or go in person with cash or a money order to the courthouse in Sacramento County.

Traffic School Eligibility

Sacramento County follows the same traffic school rules as the rest of California. You can attend school once every eighteen months. The time period runs from the date of the first violation to the date of the second violation. Many people think it is from when you complete school. That is not correct. The law looks at when the tickets were issued, not when you finished the course or paid your fine.

The court adds a fifty two dollar administrative fee for traffic school. You also pay the full bail amount. Then the traffic school itself charges its own fee. Online schools usually cost between twenty and sixty dollars. Your total expense is bail plus fifty two dollars plus the school cost. If your ticket is for a minor violation and you want to avoid insurance increases, this is often worth the money in California.

Not all tickets qualify for traffic school. Speeding over twenty five miles per hour above the limit does not qualify. Any violation that carries more than one point is out. If you had a collision at the time of the violation, the court will likely deny your request. Alcohol or drug related violations never qualify. Check your courtesy notice. It will tell you if traffic school is an option. If the notice does not list traffic school, you are probably not eligible for that citation in Sacramento County.

Cities Served by Sacramento County Court

Many cities sit within Sacramento County borders. All traffic citations in these cities get processed through Sacramento County Superior Court. There are no city traffic courts in California. Select your city for more details:

Sacramento | Elk Grove

Neighboring County Courts

If your ticket was issued outside Sacramento County, you must deal with that county court. Sacramento County only handles citations issued within its jurisdiction. Check these nearby counties:

Yolo County | Placer County | El Dorado County | San Joaquin County