There are generally three different traffic tickets for which you may be cited:
- Parking Ticket
- Infraction Traffic Ticket
- Misdemeanor Traffic Ticket
But only one of these will allow you the opportunity to attend traffic school in order to prevent this ticket from appearing on your driving record which could otherwise cause your insurance rates to increase. The type of ticket which will allow you to attend traffic school is an infraction traffic ticket which is a moving violation.
However, in order to attend traffic school you must have a valid driver’s license and the citation must have taken place while operating a noncommercial vehicle. Also, you may not have attended traffic school for a previous citation within the past 18 months.
When, and if, the court sends you a reminder notice it will state whether you are eligible to attend a DMV approved traffic school. If permitted by the court to attend an approved traffic school, upon completion a confidential conviction will be added to your driving record with the DMV and the court will be notified as well. But you will not receive a point on your driving record.
You CANNOT go to traffic school for:
- Equipment offenses
- Non-moving offenses (like parking offenses)
- Misdemeanors
- Offenses with a mandatory court appearance
- Alcohol- or drug-related offenses
- Offenses in a commercial vehicle
The California Rules of Court, rule 4.104, state other reasons why you may not be considered eligible to attend a traffic school.
You may be permitted by the court to attend traffic school if you hold a commercial driver’s license but the elligible offense did not occur while driving a commercial vehicle. After completion, the driver with a commercial license will receive a conviction on their driving record with the DMV but they will not receive a point.
If you choose to attend a traffic school you will be required to pay the ticket fines and court administrative fees as well as the cost of the traffic school. Therefore, choosing to attend traffic school only eliminates the point on your driving record and still holds the driver accountable to the fines and fees associated with receiving the traffic citation. The court will assign a deadline by which to complete your attendance of an approved traffic school and you must notify the court of your decision to attend prior to the due date on your citation if you choose not to appear.
Please don’t hesitate to call us at Ticket Dismissers should you receive any type of traffic ticket. We may be able to save you the hassle of attending traffic school, paying hefty fines, and simply having to deal with the courts. Remember, we’re here for you!