How to Contest a Traffic Citation in California
If you receive a traffic citation in California, you have several routes: plead guilty and pay the fine, request a trial to contest the citation, or – if convicted and eligible – appeal the decision. The process depends on whether the violation is an infraction or misdemeanor, and which court handles your case.
1. Initial Plea & Response
When you are cited, the first step is to respond by the deadline listed on the citation. You can: