Gustine, California Traffic School and Traffic Ticket Guide

This is the most important local fact for Gustine drivers: the Merced Superior Court's Gustine branch no longer hears any matters. The Superior Court of California, County of Merced states directly: The Dos Palos and Gustine branches will no longer be hearing matters. All matters will be handled through the Los Banos division. That means a ticket issued in Gustine — whether by Gustine Police Department, the Merced County Sheriff, or the California Highway Patrol — is processed through the Los Banos Division, not a courthouse inside Gustine city limits, unless your citation or notice directs you elsewhere.

Los Banos Division — Robert M. Falasco Justice Center

• Address: 1159 "G" Street, Los Banos, CA 93635
• Phone (Traffic Division): (209) 725-4124 (main) / (209) 725-4212 (traffic school information line)
• Fax: (209) 725-4125
• Office/telephone hours: Monday–Friday, 7:45 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Office hours are open from 7:45 am - 3:00 pm with matching telephone hours.
• Walk-in hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings between 7:45 a.m. and 8:15 a.m.; no walk-ins Wednesdays or Fridays.
• Official page: Los Banos Division | Traffic Division

Some Gustine-area citations may still direct payment or filing to the county's main Merced location:

Merced Traffic Division — Main Courthouse

• Address: 720 West 20th Street, Merced, CA 95340
• Phone: (209) 725-4107 (traffic office); (209) 725-4189 (traffic school information line)
• Fax: (209) 725-4106
• Office/telephone hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
• Walk-in hours: Monday–Thursday mornings, 7:30–8:15 a.m., plus Thursday afternoons, 12:30–1:15 p.m.
• Official page: Traffic Division

Your citation or courtesy notice — not this page, and not your city of residence — identifies the court and division actually assigned to your case. If you're unsure, contact the Traffic Division at the numbers above or use the Judicial Branch's Find My Court tool. This selection of courts is not exhaustive of every court in Merced County; the parent county guide covers the full directory.

If you want to contest a Gustine-area ticket rather than attend traffic school, Merced Superior Court explains that you may contest your citation by paying the full bail (fine) amount listed on your Notice to Appear and requesting a Trial by Written Declaration, typically by mail following your notice's instructions. Separately, if you cannot afford the full fine, the court's MyCitations online tool lets eligible drivers request an ability-to-pay reduction, a payment plan, more time to pay, or community service in lieu of payment — but the court cautions that this tool should not be used if you want to contest the citation, attend traffic school, or seek dismissal with proof of correction.

For equipment or documentation violations (such as expired registration or lack of proof of insurance at the time of the stop), Merced Superior Court allows drivers to correct the issue and submit proof — a signed citation from a law enforcement agency or DMV agent, or copies of registration/insurance — to the Merced Traffic Division for a reduced charge under Vehicle Code section 40611. This is a separate track from traffic school and does not affect a driver's TVS eligibility count.

Gustine sits at the junction of State Routes 33 and 140, a route long controlled by a four-way stop at Fourth Street and Sixth Avenue. The City of Gustine, working with Caltrans over more than a decade of planning, completed a single-lane roundabout at this intersection, replacing the former four-way stop. City officials describe the project as intended to improve both traffic flow and safety at what had been one of the city's key through-routes. Drivers ticketed near this intersection, or unfamiliar with the new traffic pattern, should follow posted roundabout yield rules — enter only when clear, and yield to traffic already in the circle.

Does Gustine have its own traffic court? No. Merced Superior Court has stated the Gustine branch no longer hears matters; Gustine-area cases are handled through the Los Banos Division.

Does living in Gustine mean my ticket goes to the Los Banos court? Not automatically — the citation-issuing agency and the court printed on your Notice to Appear determine your assigned court, not your home address. Confirm using your citation.

Can I take traffic school more than once a year? Merced Superior Court's stated rule is no more than once every 18 months per the standard TVS eligibility criteria.

Will traffic school erase my ticket? No. Completing an eligible course keeps one qualifying conviction confidential from public view (for non-commercial license holders) rather than erasing or dismissing the underlying citation.

Can commercial drivers attend traffic school for a ticket received in a commercial vehicle? No — Merced Superior Court states a commercially licensed driver operating a commercial vehicle at the time of the citation is not eligible for TVS on that citation.

What if I can't afford my fine? Merced Superior Court's MyCitations tool allows eligible drivers to request an ability-to-pay reduction or payment plan, but it should not be used if you intend to contest the ticket or attend traffic school instead.

Is the Highway 140/33 roundabout relevant to a ticket I received there? The roundabout replaced a four-way stop; if your citation involves that intersection, review current roundabout yield rules, since the traffic control has changed from the prior stop-sign configuration.

• Merced County Traffic School Guide (parent county page — link pending completion by county page run): covers the full Merced County court directory and countywide procedures beyond Gustine's specific routing.
• California Traffic School Information — GoToTrafficSchool's statewide California page, for course details, eligibility basics, and enrollment.
• Merced Superior Court — Traffic Division and Los Banos Division (linked above) — the official source for citation lookup, payment, and case-specific procedure confirmation.