ALL COURTROOM APPEARANCES ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
COURT TRIAL
You may plead not guilty and request a court trial. Bail is not required to enter this plea.
Court Appearance*: You may schedule a courtroom appearance to plead not guilty and request a court trial. You can schedule a courtroom appearance by any of the methods below.
Online*: You may request a courtroom appointment to plead not guilty and request a court trial date.
Phone*: You may make an appointment for a courtroom appearance to plead not guilty and have a court trial scheduled by calling the division indicated at the bottom of your ticket - please refer to the appropriate court location's contact information and phone hours.
Mail: Submit a request indicating that you intend to plead not guilty and are requesting an arraignment and court trial on the same date. Use the Request for Arraignment and Trial on Same Date – Infractions (SDSC Form #MO-012). Bail is not currently required for this option.
Business Office*: Visit the court location indicated at the bottom of your ticket and indicate to the counter clerk that you are requesting a courtroom appointment so you may plead not guilty and request a trial date. The clerk can schedule your courtroom appointment for you.
*multiple appearances may be required under this option.
TRIAL BY WRITTEN DECLARATION (VC § 40902)
Vehicle Code § 40902 allows a defendant to contest a citation in writing, without the need to make a personal appearance in the courtroom. This type of trial is available for cases involving infraction violations of the Vehicle Code, with the exception of Vehicle Code offenses involving alcohol and drugs, or of any local ordinance adopted under the Vehicle Code. This is called a trial by written declaration. Full bail** is required for this option.
To request a Trial by Written Declaration:
- Read the Trial by Written Declaration Information and Instructions to Defendant (SDSC Form #MO-051)
- Submit the completed Request for Trial by Written Declaration (JC Form #TR-205) and full bail to the court.
Note that credit/debit card payments cannot be accepted for this option. If you are found not guilty, your money will be refunded. If you are found guilty, the bail may be applied towards any fine imposed.
After the clerk receives the Request for Trial by Written Declaration (JC Form #TR-205) and payment of full bail**, the officer who issued you the citation will be notified and given an opportunity to submit a declaration regarding the citation by a specified due date. Your declaration and supporting information, along with the officer's information, will be submitted to the judicial officer for consideration. You will be notified by mail of the court's decision.
**Credit/debit card payments cannot be accepted for this option. If you are found not guilty, your bail will be refunded; if you are found guilty, your bail may be applied towards any fine imposed by the court.