No Driver License in Possession
A CVC 12951(a) citation means you were driving without your driver license in your immediate possession. The charge must be dismissed when you show the court a license issued to you that was valid at the time of the stop; on a third or later charge, the court may decide whether to dismiss (Vehicle Code 12951(a)).
Correction Window
The deadline is printed on your citation. Present your license before that date.
Fee After Correction
These steps apply when your ticket was issued as correctable. An officer does not issue it that way if there is evidence of fraud or persistent neglect, the violation presents an immediate safety hazard, or you cannot promptly correct it (Vehicle Code 40610(b)). When the court accepts your proof of correction, the court clerk collects a $25 fee for each corrected violation (Vehicle Code 40611). There is no fee if the agency that cited you handles the correction and nothing is sent to the court (Vehicle Code 40611(c)). Without proof of correction, you may owe the full fine. Check your notice or ask your court for the amount.
Who Can Certify
A law enforcement officer, the DMV or a court clerk can certify the correction (Vehicle Code 40616(b) and (c)).
The court must dismiss a corrected violation when you deliver proof of correction on or before the date on your ticket (Vehicle Code 40522). After that date it may not accept the correction, and you may owe the full fine. If you fail to appear without good cause, the court may add a civil assessment of up to $100 after mailing you a warning notice (Penal Code 1214.1). Willfully failing to appear, or willfully failing to deliver proof of correction, is a misdemeanor (Vehicle Code 40508 and 40616). If you need more time, ask the court before the date passes.
Step by Step
How to Correct This Violation
- 1
Locate your driver license. Check your wallet, home, or other places you may have left it.
- 2
If the license is lost, the court can dismiss on a temporary, interim or duplicate license only with DMV proof that it was issued before the stop, that your license was not suspended or revoked, and that you were eligible for it (Vehicle Code 12951(a)). A duplicate issued after the stop does not meet that rule, so ask the court or the DMV what proof of a valid license on the day of the stop they accept.
- 3
Bring your license and citation to a law enforcement agency or court clerk for sign-off.
- 4
Submit the signed citation with the $25 fee to the court before your deadline.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- What if I have a digital license on my phone?
- Vehicle Code 12951(a) requires the valid license issued to you in your immediate possession. The DMV list of places that accept the California mobile driver license does not include traffic stops, and the CHP said the mobile license pilot did not let drivers show it to officers in place of the card. Carry your physical license.
- Will this show on my driving record?
- A dismissed charge is not a conviction, so it adds no DMV points.
This guide covers passenger vehicles. Some rules differ for commercial vehicles and truck tractors (for example, where registration tabs go under Vehicle Code 5204(a)). If you were driving one, check with your employer or a licensed attorney.
This guide provides general procedural information only. It is not legal advice. For questions specific to your citation, contact the court listed on your ticket.
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