How to Determine the Status of a Ticket, Not Yet Showing Up in Court Records
My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: San Diego, California.
So I got a speeding ticket on Jan. 7th, on the I-5. I was going 78 mph and CHP pulled me over and wrote safe speed as 60. He also wrote me up for not having insurance, which I did, but was carrying my outdated copy. My ticket says my court date is on the 1st of March. It's been about a month, and I haven't received my notice or anything in the mail. The SD Court website says that they will take people with appointments only. So that's when I decided to look up my ticket information online. I've tried all of the methods from their website to find my case. However, my case wasn't found in their database. I've also tried to find my case through their automated system through the phone. Still no dice. At this point, I'm calling their office to set up an appointment and find out more about my ticket. Their phone is automated and I have no luck trying to reach them on the phone during their hours of operation. An appointment requires my case to be found in the database. My case couldn't be located in their database. Their phone lines and possibly employees as well are infuriatingly incompetent. So what do I do if I'm unable to schedule an appointment for my case?
Btw, I don't live in San Diego. I'm pretty damn far from San Diego. Thanks.
Re: How to Determine the Status of a Ticket, Not Yet Showing Up in Court Records
Taking a quick look at the website, it looks like you can schedule an appointment based on the ticket number even if you don't have a case number. Were you unable to do that?
Re: How to Determine the Status of a Ticket, Not Yet Showing Up in Court Records
Assuming you have your original citation copy, look at the appearance date on that copy. That's the date by which you must appear to post bail in your case OR make your request for Trial By Written Declaration, which allows you to contest your case by mail. If you are able to contact the court by email or phone, you can request an extension of that date, IF your case gets into the database. Regardless of website problems or your distance from the court, you are required by California Law to do one of those two things.
If you don't do one of the two things above, you will have further legal complications, the least of which will be a 300 dollar civil penalty added to your fine amount. If you do appear in the court and your case is still not in the database, you should take a written note with you to the clerk's window and get this stamped as proof of your appearance.