Traffic School

Overview

Traffic School is a program that allows persons cited for certain moving violations to receive instruction in driving and traffic safety.

Your courtesy bail notice will indicate if the violation you were cited for is traffic school eligible for a confidential traffic school conviction. You must meet the eligibility requirements noted below.

The clerk may grant a request to attend an eight hour traffic school program if you meet all of the program requirements.

Steps You Take

• You must meet all eligibility requirements listed below.
• You may attend a DMV certified traffic school in your area of residence.
• You must pay the entire non-refundable fee to the court before you attend the class.

All fees and proof of correction (if applicable) are due by the due date shown on your courtesy bail notice. The traffic school fee is comprised of the highest bail amount for traffic school eligible violations, plus a State Administrative Fee. Your check or money order must equal the total non-refundable fee shown on your courtesy bail notice.

Traffic School proof of completion is due 13 weeks for adults (8 weeks for minors) from your original due date. Your arraignment or due date and Traffic School completion date are indicated on your courtesy bail notice.

If you meet the eligibility requirements, mail the bottom portion of your courtesy bail notice with any proof of correction and your check or money order to the return address indicated on your courtesy bail notice.

Find a Traffic School

San Luis Obispo Court approved traffic schools:

• California Traffic Safety Institute
  (If attending a classroom based traffic school you must call them and make an appointment.)

Traffic schools charge an additional fee to enroll, separate from the Court's traffic school fee.

Be On Time

If you fail to submit proof of Traffic School completion to the Court by the assigned due date, the Court will order your Traffic School fee converted to bail and forfeited with no further proceedings. A bail forfeiture is a conviction and will be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Traffic School Eligibility Requirements

If you are eligible and decide not to attend Traffic Violator School (TVS) your automobile insurance may be adversely affected. In order to receive a confidential Traffic School conviction your must meet the following eligibility requirements listed below.

1. You must have a valid Class C Driver's License.
2. You are charged with an infraction that is between §21000 and §28114 of the Vehicle Code which is reportable to the Department of Motor Vehicles, subject, however, to a few exceptions.
3. You have not attended a traffic school within the last 18 months and one day from your current violation date. 18 months is calculated from your previous violation date to your current violation date.

Non Eligibility

A defendant charged with any of the following infractions shall NOT BE ELIGIBLE to attend traffic violator school.

• A violation that carries a negligent operator point count of more than one point (VC §12810) or one and one-half points under Vehicle Code § 12810.5(b)(2).
• A violation that occurs within 18 months after the date of a previous violation and the defendant either attended or elected to attend a traffic violator school for the previous violation (VC §1808.7).
• A violation of Vehicle Code §22406.5 (tank vehicles).
• A violation related to alcohol use or possession or drug use or possession.
• A violation which the defendant failed to appear under Vehicle Code §40508(a), or failed to pay under VC 40508(b), unless the failure-to-appear or failure-to-pay charge has been adjudicated and any fine imposed has been paid.
• A violation on which the defendant has failed to appear under Penal Code §1214.1 unless the civil monetary assessment has been paid.
• A speeding violation in which the speed alleged is more than 25 miles over a speed limit as set forth in Chapter 7 (commencing with § 22348) Division 11 of the Vehicle Code.
• A violation that occurs in a commercial vehicle as defined in Vehicle Code § 15210(b).
• A violation by a defendant having a class A, class B, or Commercial class C driver’s license.

Commercial licensed driver hand out

If you do not satisfy the above requirements, the clerk cannot grant a TVS request; you must make your request to a judicial officer.

After Completing Traffic School

Traffic School certificates are submitted to the court electronically by the Department of Motor Vehicles Certified Traffic School.

You may print a copy out for your records or request a copy from your classroom instructor.

You will not receive confirmation from this court. If you wish to verify the court has received your proof of completion you may contact the court or view your case our website to determine if your case is now closed.

If you sign up for Traffic School and it is later discovered you do not meet the above requirements, the bail and fee will be applied to your case and closed with a conviction and no further proceedings will occur.