Traffic Tickets: A to Z

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Traffic Court

Court Dates
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Click on a topic to learn about:

1. How do I set a Court date?
2. How should I dress when I go to Court?
3. Why does my ticket require a mandatory appearance?
4. Can I go to any Court?
5. What if I don’t speak English well?
6. What if I need to postpone my court date? (a continuance)
7. What if I miss my Court date?
    

1. How do I set a Court date?
   
   There are 2 ways to ask for a court date — in person or by mail. You cannot ask by phone.
   
   In person: On or before your due date, go to the Court listed on your citation and courtesy notice, and sign a Promise to Appear. The Clerk will tell you when to come back for arraignment.
   
   By mail: You can ask for a court date by sending a letter to the Court listed on your courtesy notice. Your letter must say if you are asking for arraignment or trial. You must also pay the full bail amount. Look at your courtesy notice to know how much your bail is. The Court will hold your money in trust to make sure you come to court.
   
   You can ask for a court date even if you failed to appear (FTA) on this case. If a warrant was issued, see the Warrant section of this website.
   
    
2. How should I dress when I go to Court?
   
   You must wear a shirt and shoes. The Court does not recommend wearing tank tops or shorts.
   
   There are other courtroom rules, too:
    
   • No food, drink, or gum
   • No weapons
   • Turn off pagers and cell phones

    

3. Why does my ticket require a mandatory appearance?
   
   If your ticket requires a mandatory appearance, you must go to court to set the court date.
   
   You must come to court if:
    
   • the validation criteria requires it
   • the Court orders it
   • you have 4 or more prior traffic convictions
   • you were cited for speeding at a dangerous speed

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4. Can I go to any Court?
   
   You can go to any of the Traffic Courts (listed on the location page) to process tickets for traffic and minor offenses, unless you wish to make a court appearance, in which case you must go to the location listed on your citation.
   
    
5. What if I don’t speak English well?
   
   The Court has interpreters. When you ask for a Court date, tell the clerk what language you speak. Sometimes the court has special dates and times (calendars) for Spanish or Vietnamese speakers.
   
   If you ask for a Court date by mail, tell the Court in your letter that you need an interpreter. (Also see the Interpreter page at the court's main website.)
   
    
6. What if I need to postpone my Court date? (a continuance)
   
   Ask for a continuance. You can do this in person, by phone or in writing.
   
   The Court will allow one continuance for arraignments or trials if the parties have waived their right to trial within time periods set by law.
   
   If your court date is for arraignment, you must ask for your continuance at least 10 court days before that date.
   
   If your court date is for court trial, you must ask for your continuance at least 10 court days before that date.
   
   If the Commissioner set your court date, the clerk CANNOT postpone your case. You must write a letter to the Court to ask for a continuance.
   
    
7. What if I miss my Court date?
   
   If you miss your court date, the court will order a bench warrant and you will be charged with a Failure to Appear (FTA) VC40508(a), or a $250 Civil Assessment will be added. For more on Civil Assessment, see the FTA page at this website.
   
   If you contact the Court right away, the Court may be able to give you another Court date. Go to the Court listed on your courtesy notice/Promise to Appear and ask for a new date. The clerk will ask you to sign a new Promise to Appear for a new date and time.
   
   If the warrant was already issued, you must go to the police agency to post bail and schedule a Court date. See Warrant Section.
   
   When the Court is holding your bail money in trust, it can use that money to pay your fines. The Court may be able to close your case as a conviction.

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