Ticketed Far From Home in California? You Can Contest by Mail
Reviewed by the TicketClear teamLast reviewed
A ticket goes to a court in the county where the violation is alleged to have happened (Vehicle Code 40502), wherever the driver lives. If you were ticketed on a long drive, that court may be hours from home. You do not have to go back to contest it: California lets you contest a traffic infraction by mail.
Contest by Mail: Trial by Written Declaration
A trial by written declaration (Vehicle Code 40902; California Rules of Court, rule 4.210) lets you send your side in writing instead of appearing. You request it with Judicial Council form TR-205 by the date on your ticket or courtesy notice. The officer also submits a statement, and the judge decides from the papers and mails the decision.
In most courts you deposit the bail amount with your request (Vehicle Code 40902(b)), and it is refunded if you are found not guilty or the charge is dismissed. Courts that offer online trial by declaration through MyCitations generally do not require bail up front (Government Code 68645.4).
How much the deposit is and how to send it: Bail Deposit for a Trial by Written Declaration →
Deadlines
You must request the trial by written declaration by the date on your ticket or courtesy notice. Mail early: some courts count the date they receive your request, not the postmark. If the court has no record of your ticket yet, contact the clerk before your date.
If You Lose
Contesting is not risk-free. If the judge finds you guilty, you have the same conviction and the same DMV points as if you had paid, and your bail deposit is applied to the fine, but the judge can set a fine higher or lower than the bail. Going to trial does not make you ineligible for traffic school, but after a guilty finding it is up to the judge.
In most courts you can then ask for a trial de novo, a new trial in person, with form TR-220 within 20 calendar days after the court delivers or mails its decision (California Rules of Court, rule 4.210). Courts that offer online trial by declaration through MyCitations do not offer a trial de novo, but you may be able to ask a higher court to review the decision.
Where a trial de novo is available, it is in person, in that county’s courthouse, so asking for one means travel. The same is true if you choose a trial in court from the start: the judge hears you and the officer in person.
By Highway
Tickets on Hwy 99
On Hwy 99, this guide covers Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno, Madera, Tulare and Kern counties. Your ticket goes to the superior court of the county where the violation is alleged to have happened, so check which court your ticket names. Each county page has the court’s contact details and how to contest by mail.
Stanislaus County: Stanislaus County traffic tickets →
Merced County: Merced County traffic tickets →
Fresno County: Fresno County traffic tickets →
Madera County: Madera County traffic tickets →
Tulare County: Tulare County traffic tickets →
Kern County: Kern County traffic tickets →
Tickets on I-5
On I-5, this guide covers Kern, Merced, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Colusa, Glenn, Tehama, Shasta and Siskiyou counties. Your ticket goes to the superior court of the county where the violation is alleged to have happened, so check which court your ticket names. Each county page has the court’s contact details and how to contest by mail.
Kern County: Kern County traffic tickets →
Merced County: Merced County traffic tickets →
Stanislaus County: Stanislaus County traffic tickets →
San Joaquin County: San Joaquin County traffic tickets →
Colusa County: Colusa County traffic tickets →
Glenn County: Glenn County traffic tickets →
Tehama County: Tehama County traffic tickets →
Shasta County: Shasta County traffic tickets →
Siskiyou County: Siskiyou County traffic tickets →
Tickets on US-395
On US-395, this guide covers Mono and Inyo counties. Your ticket goes to the superior court of the county where the violation is alleged to have happened, so check which court your ticket names. Each county page has the court’s contact details and how to contest by mail.
Mono County: Mono County traffic tickets →
Inyo County: Inyo County traffic tickets →
Tickets on US-101 and Hwy 199
On US-101 and Hwy 199, this guide covers Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino counties. Your ticket goes to the superior court of the county where the violation is alleged to have happened, so check which court your ticket names. Each county page has the court’s contact details and how to contest by mail.
Del Norte County: Del Norte County traffic tickets →
Humboldt County: Humboldt County traffic tickets →
Mendocino County: Mendocino County traffic tickets →
How Many Tickets These Counties Handle
The Judicial Council counts traffic infraction cases opened in each county’s superior court. Counties crossed by busy highways can show more cases than residents, because the counts can include highway tickets written to drivers passing through. The counts also include appeals of parking violations, and they say nothing about how cases ended, so no dismissal rate can be drawn from them.
| County | Highway in this guide | Filings | Per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanislaus | Hwy 99, I-5 | 50,437 | 90.3 |
| Merced | Hwy 99, I-5 | 31,608 | 107.4 |
| Fresno | Hwy 99 | 87,915 | 84.4 |
| Madera | Hwy 99 | 19,258 | 116.5 |
| Tulare | Hwy 99 | 43,993 | 90.0 |
| Kern | Hwy 99, I-5 | 92,698 | 100.1 |
| San Joaquin | I-5 | 47,641 | 58.5 |
| Colusa | I-5 | 5,636 | 255.4 |
| Glenn | I-5 | 6,312 | 216.2 |
| Tehama | I-5 | 9,640 | 148.4 |
| Shasta | I-5 | 31,626 | 173.5 |
| Siskiyou | I-5 | 11,014 | 254.4 |
| Mono | US-395 | 7,220 | 575.4 |
| Inyo | US-395 | 9,868 | 525.0 |
| Del Norte | US-101 and Hwy 199 | 3,081 | 116.2 |
| Humboldt | US-101 and Hwy 199 | 10,190 | 76.4 |
| Mendocino | US-101 and Hwy 199 | 13,666 | 153.0 |
| All of California | — | 2,973,585 | 75.0 |
Every county’s numbers and how they changed: California Traffic Ticket Statistics →
Live in another state? What changes for you: California Tickets for Out-of-State Drivers →
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Check if my ticket qualifiesFrequently Asked Questions
Not to contest it in writing. A trial by written declaration (Vehicle Code 40902) is done by mail. You would travel only for a trial in court or, in courts that offer one, for a trial de novo if you lose the written declaration and ask for a new trial in person.
The superior court of the county where the violation is alleged to have happened (Vehicle Code 40502). Your ticket names it.
In most courts, 20 calendar days after the court delivers or mails its decision, with form TR-220 (California Rules of Court, rule 4.210). Courts that offer online trial by declaration through MyCitations do not offer a trial de novo.
This article provides general educational information about California traffic law. It is not legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney. TicketClear is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. Results vary. Every citation is unique.
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