Online Reference Guide

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Select the County where the citation was received to begin

Defensive Driving Program
If you have received a traffic ticket in California, then a California State Approved Traffic School is a great way to dismiss your traffic ticket and lose the points from your driving records. Your insurance rates may not go up, either, as the infraction will not show on your driving record.
Impact On Your California License
Infractions are tied to a point amount and once you get too many points on your driving record, or in some cases when the violations are extreme in nature, the courts or the DMV can suspend or revoke your driver license.
Paying The Fine
If you just plan on paying the fine and perhaps attending traffic school to wipe points on your record, there's no need to go to court. You can take care of your ticket by mail or online; all the contact information should be printed on your ticket. If it's not, call the traffic court in the issuing county.

Know the Facts

Click on any of the topics below to learn more.

CALIFORNIA'S POINT SYSTEM

You can lose your privilege to drive by receiving too many points on your license within a certain amount of time. Traffic violations carry points for each offense. While most moving violations are 3 points, more serious offenses carry more. Click on the topics below to view the details.

POINT ASSESSMENTS

  Traffic Violations & Points Assessed     Accumulation of Points and Suspensions  
  Moving Violations
1
   4 points within 1 year
 
  An at-fault collision
1
   6 points within 2 years
 
  Reckless driving
2
   8 points within 3 years
 
  Leaving the scene of accident, hit-and-run
2
        
  Driving Under the Influence
2
        

DEFENSIVE DRIVING SCHOOL ELECTION

If you receive a ticket for a non-criminal moving violation, and you do not hold a commercial driver license, you may elect to attend a defensive driving course in lieu of points on your driving record. In some cases, you may choose to attend a defensive driving course to receive insurance discounts. You may only make this election once every 18 months and no more than five elections in a lifetime.

USEFUL LINKS

California Driver Manual (pdf)    

GET EDUCATED

myCitation.com - Where Smart Drivers Go. Learn everything you need to know about your traffic ticket.