Tehama County Traffic Cases

Traffic court in Tehama County operates through the Superior Court located in Red Bluff. The court handles all traffic citations issued within county limits including the cities of Red Bluff and Corning. You can search for cases online once they get entered into the system. This usually takes four to six weeks after you get your ticket. The court offers several ways to handle your citation without coming to the courthouse. Most traffic matters can be resolved by phone, mail, or through the court website.

How Traffic Court Works

The Tehama County Superior Court processes all traffic tickets issued by law enforcement within the county. This includes citations from the California Highway Patrol, Red Bluff Police Department, Corning Police Department, and the Tehama County Sheriff. Each ticket goes to the same court no matter which agency wrote it.

After you get a ticket, wait at least four weeks before calling the court. It takes time for the citation to get entered. Once the court receives it from the law enforcement agency, they will mail you a courtesy notice. This notice shows your bail amount and lists your options. You must respond by the deadline on the notice. If you do nothing, penalties get added to your fine. The court can also put a hold on your license.

You have several choices when you get your notice. You can pay the full bail amount online or by mail. You can request traffic school if you are eligible. Or you can ask for a trial to contest the ticket. Trials can be done in person at the courthouse or by written declaration where you mail in your statement and the officer mails in theirs. The judge reads both and makes a decision. For a trial by written declaration you must pay the bail first. If you win, the bail gets refunded to you.

Tehama County Superior Court

The main courthouse handles all traffic matters for Tehama County. It is located in Red Bluff at 1775 Yuba Street. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from eight in the morning until four in the afternoon. The office is closed from noon to one for lunch. You can call the court at 530-527-3350 for general questions. Phone lines are busiest in the morning so try to call after lunch if you can.

If you need to visit the courthouse, bring your citation number and a photo ID. The staff can help you with payments, setting up payment plans, or getting proof of correction signed off. Parking is available on the street around the courthouse. Red Bluff is in the northern part of the state about two hours north of Sacramento. The courthouse sits near downtown Red Bluff close to the Tehama County Courthouse building which houses other county offices and courtrooms.

For traffic school requests, you must be eligible under state law. This means the ticket is for one point only, you have not gone to traffic school in the past eighteen months, and the violation was not in a commercial vehicle. Speeding over twenty five miles per hour above the limit does not qualify for school. If your courtesy notice says you are eligible, you can request school online or by calling the court. The fee is fifty two dollars plus the full bail amount. You then pick an approved school from the DMV list and complete the course within the time allowed.

Search Traffic Cases Online

Tehama County uses an online case search system where you can look up your citation. The system is available through the court website. You search by your case number which is shown on your ticket. Some courts charge a fee to search by name but case number searches are usually free to view basic information. Once you find your case, you can see the charges, your bail amount, and your due date.

Online payments are accepted for most traffic matters. The court uses a payment vendor that adds a convenience fee. Credit cards and debit cards work for online payments. Electronic checks may also be accepted with a lower fee. After you pay online, allow two business days for the payment to post to your case. You can print a receipt from the payment site right away. If you need proof of payment for your employer or for DMV, the receipt will show your payment details and confirmation number.

The state provides a self help website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov with guidance on handling traffic tickets. This site explains your options, deadlines, and how to request a trial. It applies to all California counties including Tehama County.

Traffic Fines and Payment Options

Fines in Tehama County follow the statewide uniform bail schedule set by the Judicial Council. Base fines start low but many fees get added. State penalty assessments, court operations fees, and county charges all pile on top of the base. A simple speeding ticket can end up costing two hundred to four hundred dollars depending on how fast you were going.

If you cannot pay the full amount, payment plans are available. You need to contact the court and explain your situation. They look at your income and set up monthly payments you can afford. There is usually a small fee to set up the plan. Another option is to request community service instead of paying. The court assigns a dollar value per hour of work. You do volunteer service to work off the fine. Not all cases qualify for community service so ask the clerk if this is an option for you in Tehama County California.

The state also has an ability to pay tool at mycitations.courts.ca.gov where you can apply for a reduction if you receive public benefits or have low income. If approved, the court will reduce your fine to a lower amount. This program is available statewide including in Tehama County.

Unpaid fines lead to serious problems. The court adds a civil assessment of up to three hundred dollars if you miss your deadline. Your driver license gets suspended until you pay. Your vehicle registration renewal gets blocked. The debt goes to a collection agency that adds more fees. It is always better to contact the court before your deadline if you cannot pay. Most judges and clerks will work with you to set up a plan or reduce the amount if you qualify.

Traffic School in Tehama County

Traffic school keeps the ticket off your public driving record. Insurance companies cannot see it when they check your record. But you can only use traffic school once every eighteen months. The eighteen months is measured from violation date to violation date, not from when you completed the first school.

To request traffic school in Tehama County, check your courtesy notice to see if you are eligible. If it lists traffic school as an option, you can request it before your deadline. The fee to the court is fifty two dollars. You also pay the full bail amount. Then you pay the traffic school itself which charges twenty to sixty dollars depending on which school you pick. Most people choose online schools because they are convenient and you can do them at your own pace.

After the court approves your request, you have sixty days to complete the course. Pick a school from the DMV approved list. Do not use a school that is not on the list or the court will not accept your completion certificate. When you finish, the school sends the certificate to the court electronically. The court then reports the conviction to DMV as confidential. It still counts for the eighteen month rule but insurance companies will not see it on your record in California.

Nearby California Counties

If your ticket was issued in a neighboring county, you need to contact that county court. Tehama County Superior Court only handles citations issued within Tehama County limits. Check these nearby counties:

Shasta County | Butte County | Glenn County | Trinity County