Traffic

The Traffic Division handles adult and minor traffic violations, minor offenses, Fish & Game violations, local city and county ordinances, boating, and dog/animal citations.  Parking citations are not handled by the Court - contact the citing agency.  Driving under the influence (DUI) violations are handled through the Criminal Division.

General Information

• Traffic Division Court Schedules
• Courtesy notice
• Continuances
• Payment options/ online payments
• Payment plans
• Trial by Declaration request by mail
• Court trial request by mail
• Appear and plead not guilty
• Traffic school
• Proof of Corrections
• Insurance violations
• Collections

Courtesy notice

If you do not receive a courtesy notice, appear on the date and time listed on the citation.

Continuances

Infractions – only one 30-day continuance.

Payment options/online payments

Send payment by mail to the address on the courtesy notice. Enclose a copy of the courtesy notice with your payment. Make checks payable to Superior Court of El Dorado County.  Or you can pay on line by Credit card or Electronic Funds transfer.

Pay Online.
To pay by Visa®, MasterCard® and Discover®, click here.

To have funds transfered from a checking or savings account, click here.

Payment plans

• Must be requested in writing;
• Additional $35.00 added to total fine;
• Minimum of $50.00 per month;
• First payment minimum is $85.00 ($35.00 + 1st payment $50.00);
• Court will NOT mail monthly statement; and
• Receipts sent only if you provide a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Trial by Declaration request by mail

• Must post bail (amount listed on courtesy notice);
• Provide a letter pleading not guilty and requesting trial by declaration;
• Court mails defendant and arresting officer a declaration form for both parties to respond (with a due date usually 30 days from mailing);
• A decision will be issued and mailed; 
• If found guilty, bail is forfeited;
• If found not guilty, bail/fine will be returned to defendant within 4-6 weeks.

Court trial request by mail

• Must post bail (the amount listed on courtesy notice);
• Provide letter pleading not guilty and requesting court trial;
• Court will mail defendant and arresting officer notice of trial date (usually 6 weeks out);
• Parties appear for trial;
• If found guilty, bail amount will be applied to fine;
• If found not guilty, bail will be refunded within 4-6 weeks.

Appear and plead not guilty

• Appear in court, plead not guilty, and trial date set by clerk;
• Posting of bail waived;
• Officer will NOT be present until date of court trial.

Traffic school

You are eligible to attend traffic school if you meet the following requirements:

1. You have a valid driver’s license;
2. You have not attended traffic school in the past 18 months;
3. The violation was a moving violation and if speeding, does not exceed the posted speed by twenty five (25) MPH;
4. The violation is not alcohol or drug related;
5. You are not a holder of a commercial driver license;
6. The violation did not occur in a commercial vehicle as defined in Vehicle Code Section 15210(b).

If you choose to attend traffic school, please send the following:

1. A written request to attend traffic school;
2. A self-addressed, stamped legal-size envelope ($0.63 postage);
3. A check or money order for the amount of the fine indicated on the    notice made payable to “Superior Court”;
4. A separate check for $64.00 administrative fee made payable to "Superior Court”.

(NOTE - Traffic School fee is not refundable)

Proof of Correction

You must provide proof of correction for any correctable violation(s) to have your bail reduced and to clear the case. Bail can be reduced to $25.00 per violation being corrected. Should you choose not to provide proof of correction of violations other than 4000(a) VC registration violations, you may pay the full “bail without correction” to clear the case.

Proof of correction may be obtained in the following ways: A) Smog control device violations must be inspected & certified by an authorized Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Device Installation & Inspection Station. B) An authorized Inspection & Installation Station may certify light and brake violations. C) For other defects, proof of correction may be obtained at any law enforcement office during normal business hours.

Insurance violations

If you were cited for Insurance Violations – VC 16028(a) or 16028(c), and have no previous insurance violations on your driving record, one of the following may apply to you:

1. Providing proof of liability insurance on your vehicle or yourself showing you were insured at the time of the citation, reduces your bail for this violation to $25.00 per violation being corrected;
2. Providing proof of liability insurance on your vehicle or yourself purchased not more than 30 days after the date of the citation, bail is $400.00;
3. Providing proof of liability insurance on your vehicle or yourself purchased more than 30 days after the date of the citation, bail is $770.00.

Collections

If your case has been sent to Collections for failing to pay or failing  to appear, contact:
Revenue Recovery
330 Fair Lane, Bldg. A
Placerville, CA  95667
Telephone (530) 621-5780

Traffic Division Court Schedules

• Department 8, Commissioner Stephen W. Valentine
• Department 11, Commissioner Stephen W. Valentine

Department 8, Commissioner Stephen W. Valentine

2850 Fairlane Court
Placerville, CA 95667

Department 11, Commissioner Stephen W. Valentine

1354 Johnson Blvd.
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150