Trial by Written Declaration

[Douga99]

My question involves traffic court in the State of: California, Los Angeles Superior Court.

I had a brain drain. I sent my trial by written declaration forms to the court by first class mail, neglecting to do it certified mail, return receipt requested. Of course, now I am in a panic over whether it was received and how I can prove it. As I posted bail separately, I can't even use that to check and of course, you cannot call the court. The due date is fast approaching (July 22) and wondering what I should do. Is it worth it to go down and wait in a 2-4 hour line to speak to someone, and would they even have a record in the cashier's office to check? Is there a way to interpret the online record for your ticket to know if it was received? Or is there a way to actually speak to someone who can check?

Thanks,
Panicked in Long Beach

[That Guy]

wondering what I should do.

Go to court and have them check the status.

Is it worth it to go down and wait in a 2-4 hour line to speak to someone

Only you can answer that. If you want to find out, then that's the only way!

would they even have a record in the cashier's office to check?

Yes, they would. You would go to the "traffic window".

Is there a way to interpret the online record for your ticket to know if it was received?

The codes they post online are, at times, fairly ambiguous

Or is there a way to actually speak to someone who can check?

In L A County, the only way to "speak to someone" is to go to court.

[Douga99]

I went to the court and they told me that they had received my paperwork... YAY! I was told that the officer had the same submittal deadline and that the paperwork would be sent to a judicial officer in about a week. Sound plausible? Hoping that somehow this goes my way, but from what I've read, it sounds like it's 90% guilty unless the officer doesn't respond.