Over four million traffic citations are issued annually in the Golden State. The majority of California motorists will be stopped by the police at some point and issued a ticket. When requested to sign by a police officer, most motorists will do so without disputing the charges. But in California, do you have to sign a traffic ticket? Can you still challenge the ticket even after you sign it? These and other questions will be answered in the next paragraphs. Here’s what you need to know about signing a traffic ticket in California:
Do You Have to Sign a Traffic Ticket in California?
No, to put it briefly. You are allowed to ignore the traffic ticket legally. No one can make you sign anything. Yet, there will be repercussions. If you refuse to sign the traffic ticket, the officer is legally compelled to arrest you and take you before a judge to be formally charged.
You are free to choose not to sign, but doing so is not recommended. Your signature is a promise to appear in court or pay the citation, not an admission of guilt. Even after signing, you can still fight the ticket in court.
Does Signing a Traffic Ticket Mean You Are Admitting Guilt?
No, you are not admitting guilt by signing a traffic ticket. Simply agreeing to appear in court to answer the allegations brought against you by signing the traffic ticket is all that is required. Due to the fact that you are refusing to accept responsibility for the charges at a later time, the issuing officer is required to arrest you in order to ensure that you do.
It is always advisable to sign the ticket when it is handed to you, regardless of whether you plan to challenge the charges or accept them. You’ve just committed to showing up in court on a specific date without admitting guilt.
Did you get a traffic ticket? Keep reading and learn the basics of what comes next.
What Are the Options After Getting a Traffic Ticket
After you have received and acknowledged your traffic ticket, you will have several alternatives accessible to you, including the following:
Pay the Ticket
Although it is undoubtedly the least ideal choice, it is also one of the quickest ways to tackle the problem. In California, a traffic ticket’s base fine is $35, while the typical fine is closer to $230. Additional consequences of having a fine against your name include:
- A 15% or about $150 annual increase in your insurance.
- The addition of 1 to 2 points to your driving record; if you receive two moving violations in a 12-month period, your license may be suspended.
A Traffic School Visit
With this choice, you will still be required to pay the fine, and the ticket will remain on your record. The advantage is that your insurance provider won’t know about the point, shielding you from premium increases.
Show Up in Court
In California, showing up in court is the standard strategy for challenging a traffic ticket. It’s always possible that the judge will reduce your fine or perhaps throw out the accusations. However, there are some serious drawbacks:
- The first step is to actually show up in court. You will probably need to make arrangements for time off work because there is no responsibility to make this convenient for you.
- Second, there is no assurance the judge will be forgiving even after all that trouble. Not only will you miss a day of work, but you might still have to pay the fee.
By Written Declaration
You may file a written protest against tickets under Vehicle Code Section 40902. Trial by Written Declaration is what it’s called, and California happens to be one of the few states that permits it. This option is one of the most effective ways for Californian drivers to challenge a traffic penalty for numerous causes:
- One factor is that judges must complete their current day’s cases in a timely manner. As a result, you might not be able to present the judge with your whole defense and case, unlike a trial by written declaration, where your entire defense package can be mailed to the court.
- There may be a backlog of cases in the courtroom, implying two ideas 1. When deciding on your case, the judge can be agitated and worn out. 2. The court might hold you up to the other defendants as an illustration of how strict they are with offenders of the law. A judge will, however, privately evaluate a written defense in their chambers. As a result, a written defense is less stressful for the judge because there is no courtroom pressure or interaction with the defendants.
- You can challenge your traffic ticket without having to worry about making it to a court date with a trial by declaration.
- And last, unlike a trial, police personnel are not motivated to complete the paperwork needed for written declaration of trials. As a result, individuals can forget or lack the motivation to complete the desk task. If a police officer does not fill out the paperwork, your ticket will be dismissed, meaning there will be no fee, no points, and no ticket on your record.
Get Ticket Snipers Service
Tens of thousands of drivers have benefited from Ticket Snipers’ assistance in having their traffic tickets overturned. We take care of everything to ensure that the process is straightforward and effective for you in every way. If you have been handed a traffic citation, please contact us as soon as possible!
What Happens If you Ignore the Ticket?
You might be found guilty, have to pay the money back, and get more penalties. A judge or commissioner (a court employee) could decide your guilt or innocence without you being present. In that case, you will receive a ticket that will show up on your driving record and may even raise your insurance premiums. The court may also do the following:
- You could get an extra $100 fine (called a civil assessment)
- You ought to be charged with “Failure to Appear.”
- Put your driver’s license on hold.
Even so, you can still ask for fines to be reduced or even canceled
You could ask the court to please cancel a civil assessment if you had a good reason for not paying or going to court by the deadline, like being sick. You should ask as soon as possible.
You can also ask the court to look at your ability to pay if you can’t pay the fines. The court might be able to lower any traffic ticket fine, give you more time to pay, or make you do community service instead.
Please contact us at Ticket Snipers if you have any questions about signing your traffic ticket and how to defend yourself . We are available 24/7 if you’d like to chat with one of our trained consultants!