Traffic School
If you are eligible to attend traffic school and the online payment system does not offer this option, DO NOT PAY ONLINE. Contact the clerk's office to review your case prior to making a payment. Once a payment is made, the case is closed and traffic school will no longer be an option.
In order to attend Traffic School, you must pay the court the entire bail amount listed on the Courtesy Notice, and, at the same time, also pay a non-refundable $52.00 Traffic School fee. The Traffic School Company will charge an additional fee upon enrollment and is separate from the fines and fees due to the court.
- You must meet all Eligibility Requirements listed below.
- You must pay the entire non-refundable fee to the court before you attend the class.
- You may attend a DMV certified traffic school in your area of residence.
Upon payment to the Court, you will be given 90 days to complete the Traffic School course. Please note that there is no extension or grace period provided for the Traffic School completion date. Additionally, there are no refunds of fees paid to the court for Traffic School. If you are not licensed in the state of California, you should contact the issuing state's Department of Motor Vehicles to determine whether completing a traffic school program is appropriate.
Failure to complete the Traffic School will result in a conviction against your driving record and the non-refundable Traffic School fee will be forfeited as payment in full. If you are eligible and decide not to attend Traffic School, your automobile insurance may be adversely affected.
How do I pay and request Traffic School?
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Option 1 (Recommended)
Pay Online
There is a convenience fee added to online payments. You must select the option for paying the fine plus the $52 Traffic School fee. If you do not select Traffic School and do not pay the additional fee, you lose the option to attend traffic school for your ticket.
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Option 2
Pay By Mail
Send payment to the Clerk's Office. Please make your check or money order payable to ‘Santa Cruz Superior Court’ and include your case number and the additional $52 Traffic School fee. The Court will not accept a cash payment by mail.
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Option 3
Pay In Person
At either the Santa Cruz or Watsonville Clerk’s Office. If using the drop box after office hours, you must submit a check or money order payable to ‘Santa Cruz Superior Court’ and include your case number and the additional $52 Traffic School fee. The Court will not accept a cash payment through the drop box.
Are you Eligible?
Requirements to attend Traffic School are as follows:
- You must currently possess a valid driver’s license.
- You must not have attended Traffic School within the last 18 months, calculated from violation date to violation date.
- Your ticket must not have defaulted to a failure to appear.
- The violation(s) on your ticket must be Traffic School eligible.
- The violation must have occurred in a non-commercial vehicle.
- All correctable violations must be cleared prior to electing to attend Traffic School.
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
Commercial Licenses:
California courts allow commercial license holders to attend traffic school if they receive a citation while driving a non-commercial vehicle. If this applies to you, contact the Clerk’s Office to request Traffic School. After Traffic School is approved and completed, drivers can contact the DMV Mandatory Actions Unit by phone at (916) 657-6525 to remove the point from their driver’s record.
There are other reasons you may not be eligible for traffic school. For more information on eligibility for traffic school, see the California Rules of Court, rule 4.104.