How to Request Traffic School in Los Angeles County

You request traffic school from the Los Angeles Superior Court by paying two things at once: your bail amount and a separate traffic school administrative fee, currently around $64. Once both are paid and the request is granted, you have 60 days to complete the course.

The order matters more than almost anything else in the process. Elect traffic school at the same time you pay your bail. If you pay first and decide afterward that you want traffic school, you have to contact the courthouse to make special arrangements, which can mean additional fees and in some cases appearing before a judge.

Four Ways to Request It

You can also request it at your arraignment hearing if you are eligible.

Find the Right Courthouse First

Los Angeles County has dozens of courthouses, and your case is assigned to one specific location. Showing up at the wrong one is a wasted trip. Clerks generally will not take your payment and will redirect you to the assigned courthouse.

The identifier that determines this is the LEA code, printed in the top-left corner of your courtesy notice or citation. It indicates which agency issued your ticket, and the court uses it to route your case.

If you are paying by mail, include both your case number and your LEA code on the check or money order. If you are unsure which courthouse applies, the courtesy notice or the Los Angeles Superior Court website will confirm it.

Two Separate Fees

Budget for both, because they go to different places.

The court administrative fee, around $64 in Los Angeles County, is what you pay the court for the privilege of electing traffic school. It is non-refundable and it is separate from your bail.

The course fee is what you pay the traffic school itself. That is the only part of the total you control, since bail and the administrative fee are set by the court.

The 60-Day Clock

Once traffic school is granted, you have 60 days to complete the course and have your certificate submitted.

Missing that deadline is expensive. Your bail is forfeited, the violation is reported to the California Department of Motor Vehicles as a conviction, and a point lands on your driving record. In other words, you pay for traffic school and still take the point.

After you complete the course, allow one to two weeks for the completion to appear on your citation status. You can check it through the Los Angeles Superior Court's LA ECourt service, and confirming rather than assuming is worth the two minutes.

Eligibility Is Set by the State

The Los Angeles Superior Court applies California's statewide rules. You generally qualify if your citation is for a moving violation, you have not attended traffic school for a citation within the past 18 months, you were not cited for more than 25 mph over the limit, you were not operating a commercial vehicle, your citation does not require a mandatory court appearance, and the violation was not alcohol or drug related.

Commercial license holders have a specific rule worth noting. If your violation occurred in a vehicle requiring a commercial license, traffic school is prohibited. If it occurred in a vehicle that does not require one, it may be permitted.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the traffic school fee in Los Angeles County?

The court administrative fee is currently around $64, paid on top of your bail amount. Your traffic school charges its own separate course fee.

How long do I have to complete traffic school in LA County?

Sixty days from when your request is granted. Missing the deadline forfeits your bail and results in a conviction and a point on your record.

Can I request traffic school after I have already paid my ticket?

It becomes harder. Electing traffic school at the time you pay is strongly advised, because requesting afterward requires contacting the courthouse for special arrangements and may involve additional fees or a court appearance.

Which courthouse do I go to?

The one assigned to your case, identified by the LEA code in the top-left of your courtesy notice. Clerks at other courthouses will generally redirect you rather than accept payment.

How do I know the court received my certificate?

Check your citation status through LA ECourt. Allow one to two weeks after completion for it to appear.

The Bottom Line

Pay your bail and the administrative fee together, elect traffic school at that moment rather than later, go to the courthouse your LEA code assigns, and finish within 60 days.

If your request has been granted, GoToTrafficSchool offers a California DMV-licensed online course you can complete at your own pace, with your completion reported to the court and the Department of Motor Vehicles. Confirm your deadline with the court before you begin.