The California traffic bail schedule, formally the Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule, sets a single statewide total bail amount for every Vehicle Code infraction, and the Judicial Council of California publishes it each year. The 2026 edition is currently in effect.1California Courts. Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedules, 2026 Edition The number that matters is in the Total Bail column, not the base fine listed in the Vehicle Code. A $35 base fine for a basic speeding violation routinely passes $230 once mandatory state and county charges are added.
Why the Total Is So Much Higher Than the Base Fine
The base fine is the starting point. On top of it, the legislature stacked a series of penalty assessments that multiply the base by fixed ratios, plus two flat fees that apply to every conviction.
The state penalty assessment adds $10 for every $10 (or fraction) of the base fine.2California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 1464 A county penalty assessment adds up to $7 per $10.3Superior Court of California, County of Marin. California Traffic Bail Schedule Two DNA Identification Fund assessments add $1 and $4 per $10 of base fine.4California Department of Justice. California Government Code 76104.6 and 76104.7 – DNA Identification Fund Assessments A state court construction penalty adds another $5 per $10.5California Legislative Information. California Government Code 70372 Then a $40 court operations assessment and a $35 conviction assessment are added as flat fees, regardless of the base amount.6Legislative Analyst’s Office. Criminal Fine and Fee Actions
The combined effect is a total bail roughly five to seven times the base fine. A $35 base becomes $230 or more. A $100 base easily clears $500. You don’t have to do the math yourself: the schedule’s Total Bail column already combines everything into one number.
Looking Up Your Total Bail
Find the violation code on your citation. The officer writes the specific Vehicle Code section you allegedly violated, and that code is the key to the schedule. Download the 2026 Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule from the Judicial Council.1California Courts. Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedules, 2026 Edition Match the row to your code and read across to the Total Bail column.
Most courts also mail a courtesy notice after processing the citation, and that notice shows the amount owed with your deadline. Compare the two. If the figures don’t match, call the clerk’s office listed on the notice before you pay. Administrative errors happen, and catching one early is easier than fixing it later.
Your Options Before the Appearance Date
Paying the bail is the simplest route, but it counts as a guilty plea. You have other paths.7California Courts Self-Help Guide. Guide to Traffic Tickets
- Pay the bail (forfeit bail). You accept guilt, the conviction goes on your record, and the DMV adds a point. The case closes once payment is processed.
- Request a court trial. You plead not guilty and appear before a judge. You do not have to pay bail before an in-person trial. The citing officer must also appear, and the prosecution must prove the violation beyond a reasonable doubt.
- File a trial by written declaration. You and the officer each submit written statements, and a judge decides on paper without anyone appearing. You must pay bail upfront, but the court refunds it if you’re found not guilty.
- Correct a fix-it ticket. For a correctable violation like a broken taillight or expired registration, fix the problem, get the back of the citation signed as proof of correction, and submit it with a small dismissal fee.
Trial by Written Declaration
This is the most underused way to contest a ticket, and it has a real advantage: if you lose, you can request a brand-new in-person trial as if the written decision never happened.
To request one, fill out form TR-205, attach any evidence or witness statements, pay your full bail amount, and submit everything to the court before your deadline.8California Courts Self-Help Guide. Trial by Written Declaration The court gives the citing officer a chance to submit a written statement. A judge reads both sides and mails you a decision.
If the judge finds you guilty, you have 20 calendar days from the date the court mails its decision to file a Request for New Trial (form TR-220). The court schedules the new in-person trial within 45 days.8California Courts Self-Help Guide. Trial by Written Declaration One caveat: if your court uses the MyCitations online tool for written declarations, you lose the right to a trial de novo regardless of how you filed. Check your court’s website first.
Traffic School Keeps the Point Off Your Record
Traffic school is the main tool for stopping a conviction from reaching the DMV as a point. Eligibility generally requires a valid license, a non-commercial vehicle at the time of the violation, and no prior traffic school election within the last 18 months. The court has discretion to grant or deny the request.
It isn’t a discount. You pay the full bail amount, plus an administrative fee of up to $35 charged by the court for processing the election, plus the fee the traffic school charges for the course itself.7California Courts Self-Help Guide. Guide to Traffic Tickets The out-of-pocket total exceeds what you would pay by simply forfeiting bail. The payoff is a clean record and no insurance surcharge tied to the conviction, which usually dwarfs the extra cost.
How to Pay
Most courts offer three channels. Whichever you use, payment must be received or postmarked by the appearance date printed on your citation.
- Online. Enter your citation number on the court’s payment portal. Most accept major credit and debit cards. Expect a processing convenience fee that varies by county.
- By mail. Send a check or money order to the clerk of the court at the address on your citation or courtesy notice. Write your citation number on the payment so the clerk can match it to your case. The postmark date controls, but leave time for delivery.
- In person. Visit the courthouse traffic window during business hours. This is the only option for cash. Some courthouses have automated kiosks in the lobby for after-hours card payments.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline
Ignoring a California traffic ticket starts a cascade. The court can impose a civil assessment of up to $100 on top of the original bail amount.9California Courts. AB 199 Civil Assessments Frequently Asked Questions That $100 cap took effect in July 2022 when the legislature reduced it from $300, and any pre-2022 civil assessments that hadn’t been collected were vacated.10California Courts Self-Help Guide. Canceling Civil Assessments in Traffic Cases
The money is only the start. Failing to appear or pay is a misdemeanor under the Vehicle Code, punishable by up to six months in county jail and a $1,000 fine. A warrant can be issued for your arrest. The DMV can place a hold on your license and suspend your driving privileges, and you may be unable to renew your vehicle registration until the matter is resolved. The court may also send the debt to a collections agency, which adds its own fees.
If you’ve already missed the date, contact the court immediately. Many courts let you resolve the matter by paying the bail plus the civil assessment without a court appearance, as long as no warrant has been issued. Some allow extensions or payment plans through an online portal, by phone, or at the clerk’s office.
If You Can’t Afford the Full Amount
You have options beyond ignoring the ticket. Courts can reduce the amount owed when a defendant demonstrates an inability to pay. Request an ability-to-pay determination by contacting the court before your deadline. Factors courts consider include your income, household size, monthly expenses, receipt of public benefits, and whether paying the full amount would force you to forgo basic necessities like food or housing.
Courts can also set up installment payment plans, usually scaled to income. Missing an installment can trigger the same consequences as missing the original deadline, so only agree to a schedule you can actually keep. Community service may be available as an alternative to cash payment in some courts.
If You Hold a Commercial Driver’s License
CDL holders face rules that regular drivers don’t. You must notify your current employer within 30 days of any non-parking traffic conviction, even one in your personal car, and even if the conviction is under appeal.11Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. CDL Holder Employer Notification Requirements Convictions while operating a commercial vehicle also carry 1.5 times the normal DMV point value.12California DMV. Driver Negligence Traffic school is not available to mask a point from a violation committed in a commercial vehicle, so contesting the ticket is worth considering before paying.