Locations and Phone Numbers
How to pay your traffic ticket
Traffic citation information
Insurance Violations
Traffic court walk in information
Traffic court request for mail or in person
Traffic court request a court trial by declaration (written statement)
Traffic warrant or DMV hold information
Traffic school information
Installment bail information
Owner's responsibility

Locations and Phone Numbers

Effective July 1st, 2009, Criminal/Traffic units will close at 4:00 p.m., the Walk-Up Express window will remain open until 5:00 p.m. (see details below).

Ventura: Government Center, Hall of Justice, Room 118
800 South Victoria Ave., Ventura CA 93009
Tel (805) 654-2611

Pay for your traffic ticket (including Collections payments), show proof of corrections, or submit your traffic school
completion certificate without entering the courthouse at our Walk-Up Express Window at this location only. The window
is open from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on the third Saturday of
each month.

Simi Valley: East County Courthouse, South Side
3855-F Alamo Street, Simi Valley, CA 93063
Tel (805) 582-8080

Oxnard: Juvenile Courthouse – Room 122
4353 E. Vineyard Ave., Oxnard, CA 93036
Tel (805) 981-5977

Email:  traffic@ventura.courts.ca.gov

How to Pay Your Traffic Ticket

If you received a traffic citation, a courtesy notice will be mailed to you at the address on your citation in approximately 3 weeks from the date you received your traffic ticket. The courtesy notice will include your fine amount(s) and your due date.

• To Pay by Debit/Credit Card: You can pay the fine amount with a debit/credit card on this web site by clicking here https://public.courts.ventura.org/tphome.htm. A convenience fee will be added to your fine when paying by debit/credit card on our web site. Our web site is available 24 hours a day.
  


• To Pay by Mail: You can pay the fine amount by mailing a check or money order made out to Ventura Superior Court in the envelope provided with your courtesy notice. Please do not mail cash. If you pay by mail please include the full amount due and include proof of corrections if applicable.
  
  
• To Pay in Person: Payments can be made by cash, check, or money order at the Government Center, Hall of Justice in Ventura, the Juvenile Courthouse in Oxnard or at the East County Courthouse in Simi Valley. You can pay for your traffic ticket (including Collections payments) without entering the courthouse at our Walk-Up Express Window at the Government Center location only. The Walk-Up Express Window is open from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on the third Saturday of each month. A court clerk is also stationed at the Oxnard DMV to take payments from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. We cannot take debit/credit card payments at any of these locations. Court locations are not open on holidays.
  
  
• To Make Payments: The Court Collection Unit is open 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. You can go to the Collections Unit at any court location to request a payment schedule. A $35.00 Accounts Receivable Fee will be added to your fine.
  
  

Traffic Citation Information

• Clearing Correctable Citations: Proof of correction can be obtained by having an authorized representative of the issuing agency fill out the Certificate of Correction located on the reverse side of your citation. Pollution Control Device violations must be certified by a smog check station licensed by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair. Registration and/or driver's license violations may be certified by a Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) clerk. All registration violations must be corrected. Your courtesy notice will contain the correct amount of money you must pay along with your proof of corrections. If you have already sent your proof of correction to the clerk, you may pay the remaining balance owed in the envelope provided with your courtesy notice.
  
  
• Extensions on Traffic Citations: The clerks are authorized to grant one 28-day extension of your traffic citation. Should you require additional time, approval from the supervisor must be obtained by the clerk. For extensions beyond the authorized 28 days, you must appear in court and speak with the judge or commissioner in open court.
  
  
• Juvenile Misdemeanor Traffic Citations: If your citation was marked "to be notified", you will receive a courtesy notice giving you a court date and time. A parent or guardian will be required to appear with you. Failure to appear could result in a hold placed on your driver's license. If a hold has been placed on your driver's record, this citation requires your appearance in court and you must bring one parent or guardian.
  
  
• Traffic Appeals: In an appeal, a higher court reviews the order or judgment of a lower court. Any party may appeal from an unfavorable decision based upon whether there was enough evidence to support the judgment or whether errors of law were committed during or before trial which harmed the appealing party.
  
  On a decision in a limited jurisdiction case (those within the jurisdiction of the former municipal court), the NOTICE OF APPEAL (Infraction) must be filed within 30 days of the entry of judgment.
  
  There is no fee for filing an appeal on a traffic case. An instruction packet titled Instruction on Appeal Procedures for Infractions is available in room 210 in the Clerk's office.
  
  
• Parking Appeals: After receiving the final decision of the issuing or processing agency, you may contest that decision by filing a Notice of Appeal - Parking. This appeal must be filed within 20 days after the mailing of the final decision of the issuing agency. Forms are available at the clerk's office. You must pay a $25 filing fee to the court as outlined in Section 42030 of the California Vehicle Code. Checks are accepted.

Insurance Violations

Pursuant to Vehicle Code section 16028(a), every person who drives a motor vehicle upon a highway shall provide evidence of financial responsibility (insurance) for their vehicle at all times and provide it to any peace officer upon demand.

Your courtesy notice will reflect the amounts due for the scenarios listed below.


1. You had insurance at the time you received a traffic ticket but the proof of insurance was not in the vehicle.
   
   1. Mail a copy (in the envelope provided with your courtesy notice) or bring your insurance policy or insurance card showing the date of issuance to the clerk’s office.
   2. Include a check in the amount of $25.00 made out to the Ventura Superior Court.


2. You bought insurance after you received the traffic ticket.
   
   1. Mail a copy or bring your insurance policy or insurance card showing the date of issuance to the clerk’s office.
   2. Your fine will be reduced. Include a check made out to the Ventura Superior Court for the reduced fine amount reflected on your courtesy notice.
   3. You can make arrangements to pay your fine in installments to the Court Collections Department. A $35.00 Accounts Receivable Fee will be added to your fine.


3. No Insurance
   
   1. If you do not plan to purchase insurance, you can pay the entire amount due reflected on your courtesy notice.
   2. You can contest the citation by entering a not guilty plea and request a Court Trial.
   3. You can contest the citation by entering a not guilty plea and requesting a Trial By Written Declaration

Walk-in Information

• Ventura Office: Walk-in Traffic Court is held Monday through Friday, except holidays, at 1:30 p.m. only. You must check in with the clerk in Room 118 of the Hall of Justice building no later than 12:15 p.m., by the due date on your citation. You must appear in court if your courtesy notice indicates a MANDATORY APPEARANCE is required. This must be done by your due date. Night Court is available for infraction violations on the second Thursday of each month. A reservation for night court is required. You may make a reservation for night court by calling (805) 654-2611.
  
  
• Simi Valley Office: Walk in Traffic Court is held Monday through Wednesday, except holidays, at 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. You must check in at the clerk’s counter, 3855-F Alamo St., Simi Valley, no later than 8:00 a.m. or 12:15 p.m., by the due date on your citation. You must appear in court if your courtesy notice indicates a MANDATORY APPEARANCE is required. This must be done by your due date. Night Court is available for infraction violations on the fourth Wednesday of each month. A reservation for night court is required. You may make a reservation for night court by calling (805) 582-8080.

Requesting a Traffic Court Trial by Mail/or in Person (Ventura/Simi)

• If you do not agree with the citation, you may enter a not guilty plea by mail or by appearing at the clerk's office. The violation must be an infraction that does not require a mandatory appearance. The court trial will be set within 30 to 45 days. Court trials set in Ventura are held on Monday or Friday at either 8:15 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. and on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. Court trials set in Simi Valley are held on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. You or your attorney must be present in court on the date of trial. The officer who issued the citation will be present at the court trial. Before a trial date is set, the clerks office must receive:
  
  
  • A "Written Not Guilty Plea" form signed by you or your attorney on your behalf;
  • The total amount of bail owed on your case. This amount will appear on the plea form that is sent to you and is also contained in your courtesy notice. Please contact the clerk's office at (805) 654-2611 or (805) 582-8080 for forms.

Requesting a Court Trial by Declaration (Written Statement) (Ventura)

• If you wish to have your case considered on the basis of a written statement rather than a court appearance, the clerk's office must receive:
  • A "Request for Trial by Written Declaration" form signed by you. (click here for Judicial Council forms)
  • The total amount of bail owed on your case. This amount will appear on the declaration form and is also contained in your courtesy notice.
  • The written declaration of the facts of the case. This area is on the reverse side of the Trial by Written Declaration form. Please contact the clerk's office at (805) 654-2611 or (805) 582-8080 to have a declaration form sent to you.
    
    
• The officer who issued the citation will also be requested to submit a statement of the facts. You will be notified of the judge's decision by mail within 45 days. If you disagree with the decision of the court, you must file a Request for New Trial within 20 days after the date the court's decision was mailed to you.

Traffic Warrants and DMV Holds

To clear a traffic warrant or release a DMV hold, you can pay by cash, money order, personal check, cashier's check or credit card. To pay this amount by credit card, call (805) 654-2611 (available 24 hours a day), or pay at any court location or DMV office.

If you live in Oxnard or Port Hueneme, a court clerk is located at the Oxnard Department of Motor Vehicles, 4050 Saviers Road, Oxnard, CA. [click for directions] You may pay, release the hold, and obtain your driver's license at that one location. The clerk is available between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays).

Traffic School Information

• Eligibility:

1. You may attend traffic school to dismiss a citation once every 18 months, from violation date to violation date.
2. If your offense occurred on or after September 20, 2005, and you hold a class A, class B or commercial class C driver’s license, or if you were in a commercial vehicle, you are not eligible to attend traffic school.
3. Your citation may not be for more than two moving violations that do not require a mandatory appearance, or no more than two moving violations plus a seat belt violation.
4. Your Courtesy Notice will include information regarding your traffic school eligibility. If you are eligible, send the Courtesy Notice as your request, along with the fine, the $57.00 traffic school administrative fee, and any corrections in the envelope provided.
5. When the court receives the fine and fee you will receive another notice granting you permission to attend traffic school and a date to complete it. The notice will include information regarding authorized traffic schools.
6. Do not attend traffic school unless the court has authorized you to do so.
7. Do not attend an unauthorized traffic school.
8. If you are eligible and decide not to attend traffic school, your automobile insurance may be adversely affected.
9. If you have been denied traffic school and feel you are eligible, you must speak to a clerk.

• Certificates:

1. If you attend a California DMV approved traffic school or an on-line traffic school that has been approved by Ventura County Superior Court, it is your responsibility to return the completion certificate to the court.
2. If you attend US Interactive Take Home Video (Blockbuster) traffic school, your completion certificate will automatically be transmitted to the court.
3. Your certificate must be dated prior to or on your completion date.
4. You can verify that the court received your certificate at the court web site. Click here to go there now.

Installment Bail Information

If you are requesting to make monthly payments without going to court, you must meet the following requirements:

• Your case must be a post and forfeit infraction or misdemeanor citation or a Section 40508a CVC warrant.
• You must pay a $35 service charge which must be paid with the first installment.
• Your minimum bail amount per month will be $50.

Owner's Responsibility

If your citation is past due, a hold has been placed on the vehicle's registration at DMV. Failure to clear this citation could result in your inability to register your vehicle when the tags are due.

If the citation was mechanical in nature, issued to the driver, and the company wants to assume responsibility, please mail in the amount of the citation (as noted on the courtesy notice) and have the company send a request to assume responsibility on company letterhead stationery.