So, you got a traffic ticket in California. You’re not alone — over 4 million people each year receive tickets in the state. If you’ve never gotten one before, though, you might not know exactly what to expect.

We’ve put together a short guide that has all the information you need to know. Let’s take a look.

View the Situation Objectively

Before you move forward with this process, it’s important for you to be honest with yourself about the situation. For example, there’s a strong difference between getting pulled over for going 5 mph of the speed limit and getting pulled over for speeding in a school zone.

If there is overwhelming evidence of your wrongdoing, it’s likely in your best interest to simply comply with the terms of the ticket or citation. This is especially true if you were stopped in an urban location, as many street corners, businesses, etc. have cameras that can be used as evidence.

If you feel that your situation is unjust, however, you have the opportunity to take action in the form of contesting the ticket.

Decide How You Will Plead

After taking a look at your situation, you then need to decide how you are going to plead.

If you choose to plead ‘not guilty’ or ‘no-contest,’ then you will be subject to the terms of the ticket or citation. To elaborate, let’s assume that you got pulled over for speeding and were given a ticket for $200. Pleading guilty or no-contest and the situation would require you to pay this amount.

Get in Touch With the Court as Soon as Possible

After you’ve made your decision, it’s imperative that you waste no time in getting in touch with the court. If you don’t do so before a specific date, you run the risk of encountering a handful of further complications.

For example, if you simply choose to ignore your ticket, you could experience additional fines. In extreme cases, the court may even decide to suspend your license or issue a warrant for your arrest.

Your ticket will have the appropriate contact information that you can use to reach out to them. If you plan on simply paying for your ticket, they can provide you with the guidance to help you do so.

If you plan to contest your ticket and appear in court, they can also tell you the next steps they need to take. You can also confirm the date of your court appearance when you contact them to prevent any conflicts from arising.

Be Prepared to Pay — One Way or Another

Unfortunately, there’s a strong chance that you will need to pay for your ticket in some form. Unless, of course, there is overwhelming evidence that proves that you were not guilty of any wrongdoing.

If you choose to contest your ticket, you should anticipate that it will be difficult to secure the outcome you want. If the case eventually reaches the point where it’s your word against that of a police officer, the court is likely to side with law enforcement and you will end up paying the ticket plus court fees.

By pleading guilty or no-contest, you will obviously also have to pay the fine declared on the ticket.

Some individuals choose to seek legal counsel after they been pulled over. A legal professional can help you navigate the corridors of California traffic law and give you the greatest chance of achieving a desirable outcome in the courtroom. They may even be able to get the ticket dismissed entirely.

Regardless of what you use a traffic attorney for, though, you still need to compensate them for their services. So, it’s in your best interest for you to mentally prepare to pay one way or another after you’ve been pulled over.

Damage Control

As you most likely know, getting a ticket will negatively impact your driving record. This comes in the form of ‘points’ that accrue as you receive more and more tickets.

If you get enough points, your license will be suspended. Even a single ticket, however, could result in increases in your insurance premium.

This is simply due to the fact that the insurance company will view you as an unsafe driver — even if you received a ticket as the result of a misunderstanding.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help minimize the negative consequences associated with receiving a ticket in the state of California. One of the most useful options is enrolling in traffic school.

This will allow you to effectively expunge any wrongdoing on your driving record by taking the requisite courses on driver safety. Although there are many different providers, the content is more or less identical. What does differ, though, is the price.

So, it’s in your best interest to shop around until you find a traffic school that’s suitable for you. It’s also important to note that you can only enroll in traffic school once every 18 months.

Dealing With the Traffic Ticket in California Can Seem Complicated

By adhering to the above information, you’ll ensure that you handle this process effortlessly. From here, you’ll be able to ease your mind about your traffic ticket in California and take the necessary steps to keep you out of trouble.

Want to learn more info you should keep in mind? Be sure to explore what the rest of our blog has to offer.