The following payment options are available without a showing of financial hardship:
- Installment payment plan
- If you would like to forfeit bail or pay traffic school bail/fees in installments without the need to appear before a judicial officer, you may sign an agreement to pay 10% of the total due forthwith and monthly installments of at least $35 a month until paid in full. To do so, you may (1) go to Pay Your Ticket; or (2) appear at the Traffic business office.
- If you would like to establish a payment plan for a court-ordered fine without the need to appear before a judicial officer, you must appear at the Traffic business office to sign an agreement to pay 10% of the total due forthwith and monthly installments of at least $35 a month until paid in full.
- Reduction in monthly payment amount:
- If you already have an established monthly payment plan, you may request a reduction of the monthly payment amount (down to $35/month). To do so, you must appear at the Traffic business office.
- To obtain a monthly payment amount below $35, you must schedule an appointment to appear before a judicial officer. To schedule an appointment, contact the court location listed on your ticket.
- More time to pay:
To request a 30-day extension of an existing payment due date, you may (1) go to Pay Your Ticket; (2) call the court between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. (for phone numbers for each court location, go to the Location); or (3) appear at the Traffic business office. You may get up to two 30-day extensions to pay per case without seeing a judicial officer; if you need an additional extension, you must schedule an appointment to appear before a judicial officer. To schedule an appointment, contact the court location listed on your ticket.
If you have a financial hardship and can show you are unable to pay the full amount, the following options are available:
- Setting/reducing fine amount or community service in lieu of fine: If you have a financial hardship, you may ask the court to consider your ability to pay when setting the fine amount to be imposed, request a reduction of the fine amount already imposed, or request community service in lieu of payment of the fine. To request any of these options, you must:
- Schedule an appointment to appear before a judicial officer to give a detailed explanation of your financial hardship. To schedule an appointment, contact the court location listed on your ticket; or
- Provide the court with a written explanation of your financial hardship. Documents may be mailed, filed with the clerk in the Traffic business office, or placed in the express drop box in the lobby of the court listed on your ticket. Requests will be responded to in writing after review by a judicial officer.
Your financial hardship may be detailed using the Judicial Council form Can’t Afford to Pay Fine: Traffic and Other Infractions (JC Form #TR-320PDF).
If a fine has not yet been imposed by the court, you will first need to plead guilty or no contest, either by (1) filing or mailing an Advisal/Waiver of Constitutional Rights for Plea by Mail form (SDSC Form #MO-041PDF) with your financial hardship paperwork; or (2) scheduling an appointment to appear before a judicial officer. To schedule an appointment, contact the court location listed on your ticket.
If a fine was previously imposed, and a civil assessment has been added for a failure to appear or failure to pay, include a Civil Assessment Good Cause Statement Failure to Appear or Pay form (SDSC Form #ADM-283PDF), and include any additional information you want the court to consider.
Any prior orders in your case requiring payment remain in effect until the court rules on your request.
Once the court has determined your ability to pay, you can only ask the court to reconsider the amount you owe if your financial circumstances have changed.