Skip to main content
Skip to main content.

Remote Appearances:

Your upcoming hearing may be eligible for a remote appearance. Visit our remote appearances page for more information.

Seeking Civil Grand Jury Applicants -

Seeking grand jury applicants for the 24/25 year. For more information and to apply, visit the Grand Jury Page

Traffic

The Traffic Division is located in the Downtown El Centro Courthouse at 939 W Main Street, El Centro

Payment Information

Traffic Web Payment: To find information about your case, please enter one of the following: Driver's License Number, Case Number and Citation Number.

Traffic Web Payment

Payment Window or Phone: 8:00 am–4:00 pm Monday–Friday. Check, money order, cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover accepted.

Note: DMV release will be delayed if payment is made by personal check.

Traffic Inquiries: You may contact the Traffic division via our email form.

Traffic Remote Appearances

You may be eligible to appear remotely for your hearing. For more information, please go to our remote appearances page:

Remote Appearances

Unable to Pay your Traffic Ticket?

If you have a financial hardship and can show that you are unable to pay the full amount of a fine for any infraction offense (including traffic offenses), you may ask the Court to consider your ability to pay in setting the total amount due online or in-person at any point before your fines and fees are fully paid.

The MyCitations online tool allows you to enter a plea and make an ability to pay request on eligible infractions. In addition to requesting a reduction, you can request a payment plan, more time to pay, or ask to complete community service in lieu of paying fines and fees.

Do not use the online tool if you wish to:

1) contest the citation,

2) you would like to attend traffic school, or

3) you have proof of correction and would like a dismissal or reduction of those charges.

My Citations - Request Traffic Fee Reduction

California Courts Traffic & Ticket Basics

If you are cited for a traffic infraction, you must follow through with the "Pay or Appear" date on the ticket.

Courtesy Notices are mailed but not a requirement or intended as an extension for time.

Pay or Appear date is critical, do not overlook or wait for the notice.

Read More

Requesting Traffic School

Traffic School payments can be made at all court locations.

You have the option of attending a DMV approved eight-hour traffic school program, or you can attend a home study or online traffic school. Approved traffic schools can be found at the links below.

You can also request traffic school by telephone. You must have your citation number and credit card available.

If you sign up by phone or through the mail, a list of traffic schools will be mailed to you, or you may use the lists above.

I've been issued a traffic citation, now what do I do?

Ticket? Once your citation is filed with this court, you will be sent a courtesy notice containing necessary information.

If After three weeks from the citation date you have not received this notice, please contact the Court.

Citation Resolution Options: There are six options available.

  1. Forfeit bail and pay entire amount of assessed fine (Your DMV record will be affected)
  2. Show proof of correction for 16028(a) (no insurance), 4000(a) (no vehicle registration) and mechanical and pay reduced amount of correction fee (Your DMV record will not be affected)
  3. Request traffic school and pay entire amount of assessed fine plus $57.00 traffic school fee (DMV will be notified of traffic school dismissal)
  4. Contest violation and request trial IN PERSON, prior to your due date. If appearing in person, you need not deposit bail first before attending Court or seeing the Judge.
  5. Contest violation BY MAIL, prior to your due date, by submitting a TRIAL BY DECLARATION and BAIL. You are requiered to pay your bail when you submit your trial by declaration; the traffic referee will not review your paperwork or make a decision on your case until payment is received. These monies will be placed in trust until completion of the case.
  6. Request ability-to-pay consideration IN PERSON or ONLINE though MyCitations at any point before your fines and fees are paid.
    • Do not use the online tool if you wish to:

      1. contest the citation,
      2. you would like to attend traffic school, or
      3. you have proof of correction and would like a dismissal or reduction of those charges.

Note: Your courtesy notice will reflect whether you are eligible to attend traffic school. If you are eligible you may attend a DMV approved traffic school class or an approved Imperial County home study traffic school program.

Was this helpful?

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.