Reentry Legal Services

Ability to Pay Petition

Document Checklist

Civil Assessment Fee

Traffic Court Phone Number: (510) 627-4700

Financial Hardship? Complete the Ability-to-Pay form, Document Checklist, and the Request to Vacate Civil Assessment Fee. Submit this form(s) in person or mail it to the courthouse.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear in walk-in court and ask to see the judge. All FTA holds will be removed after a person makes a court appearance before a judge.

Criminal Records Remedies:

East Bay Community Law Center

Website: https://ebclc.org/
University Office
- Address: 1950 University Avenue, Suite 200, Berkeley, CA 94704
- Phone: (510) 548-4064
Adeline Office
- Address: 2921 Adeline Street, Berkeley, CA 94703
- Phone: (510) 548-4040

Alameda County Public Defender’s Office

Website: http://www.co.alameda.ca.us/defender/
Main Office
- Address: 1401 Lakeside Drive, Suite 400, Oakland, CA
- Phone: (510) 272-6600
Dublin Office
- Address: 5149 Gleason Drive Room C155, Dublin, CA 94568
- Phone: (925) 551-6863

Bay Area Legal Aid

Website: www.baylegal.org
Address: 1735 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA
Phone: 1-800-551-5554

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (530) 694-2113

Financial Hardship? The defendant can write a letter to the judge or court making a request for an Ability to Pay process.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? The defendant must pay off the fine.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Alpine County Probation Department

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 458 Markleeville, CA 96120
Phone: (530) 694-2192

Traffic Court Information:

Order on ATP Determination

Form

Traffic Court Phone Number: (209) 257-2605

Financial Hardship? Complete the Ability-to-Pay form and the Request to Vacate Civil Assessment Fee.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? The defendant must pay off the fine.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Amador County Superior Courthouse

Website: https://www.amadorcourt.org/default.aspx
Address: 500 Argonaut Lane, Jackson, CA 95642
Phone: (209) 257-2600

Legal Services of Northern California

Website: http://lsnc.net/office/auburn
Address: 190 Reamer Street, Auburn, CA, 95603
Phone: (530) 823-7560

Amador County Public Defender’s Office

Website: https://www.freelegalaid.com/nav/california/dui-and-criminal/resource/amador-county-public-defender
Address: 201 Clinton Road Suite 202 Jackson , CA 95642
Phone: (209) 223-0877

Amador County Probation Department

Address: 675 New York Ranch, Jackson, CA 95642
Phone: (209) 223-6387

Traffic Court Information:

Form to Modify Penalties

Traffic Court Phone Number: (530) 532‑7005

Financial Hardship? Write a letter to the Commissioner (can use Petition to Modify Penalties). OR get added on to the court calendar (FTAs and FTPs). If it is a Chico case, walk-in court occurs on Thursdays at 8am. It it is an Oroville case, walk-in court occurs on Friday at 12:45pm.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear in walk-in court and ask to see the judge. Or, set up a payment plan with the court.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Norcal Criminal Law

Website: https://www.norcalcriminallaw.com/#intro
Address: 2068 Talbert Drive, Suite 300, Chico, CA 95928
Phone: (530) 580-8529

Starting Over Strong

Website: http://startingoverstrong.com/
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2104, Willows, CA 95988
Phone: (530) 867-3296

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (209) 754-9800 & GC services (collection agency): (800) 333-8395

Financial Hardship? The defendant gets the form from the clerk by calling the clerk.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear on that citation to clear the FTA. DMV hold will be released once you appear in court. If you have an FTP, when the fine is paid in full, the hold will be released in 5 days.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Scott Gross, Richard A. Ciummo & Associates

Address: 265 West St. Charles San Andreas, CA 95249
Phone: (209) 754-4321

Legal Services of Northern California

Website: http://lsnc.net/office/auburn
Address: 190 Reamer Street, Auburn, CA, 95603
Phone: (530) 823-7560

Traffic Court Information:

Ability To Pay Determination Form

Traffic Court Phone Number: (530) 458-5149 & Telephone payment system: (866) 604-8201

Financial Hardship? Complete the Ability-to-Pay form and the Request to Vacate Civil Assessment Fee. Can do walk-in court to request a reduction or community service after an FTA.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear in court.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Colusa County Superior Court

Website: http://www.colusa.courts.ca.gov/default.asp
Address: 532 Oak Street, Colusa, CA 95932
Phone: (530) 458-5149

California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.

Website: www.crla.org
Address: 511 D Street, Marysville, CA 95901
Phone: (530) 742-5191

Traffic Court Information:

ATP Request and Civil Assessment Fee Form

Traffic Court Phone Number: (925) 608-1000, press 1, then 2 or for admin press 8, then 2 for collection services (or 8, then 7 for clerk)

Financial Hardship? Defendant can mail or submit in person a form for an ability-to-pay determination. Judge will make a decision on the papers. Defendant can appeal her decision by asking for a court appearance.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Fine must be paid in full.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Contra Costa County Public Defender’s Office

Website: http://co.contra-costa.ca.us/1555/Public-Defender
Martinez Office
- Address: 800 Ferry Street, Martinez, CA 94553
- Phone: (925) 335-8000
Richmond Office
- Address: 3811 Bissell Avenue, Richmond, CA 94805
- Phone: (510) 412-4900

Bay Area Legal Aid

Website: www.baylegal.org
Address: 1735 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA
Phone: 1-800-551-5554

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (707) 464-8115

Financial Hardship? No ability-to-pay process. Defendant has to come to the courthouse and set up a court appearance. Don’t require bail to be posted prior to a trial by written declaration. Once in collections, it’s out of the court’s hands. (GC Services)

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Fine must be paid in full.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Del Norte Superior Court

Website: http://www.delnorte.courts.ca.gov/
Address: 450 H Street, Crescent City, CA 95531
Phone: (707) 464-8115

Legal Services of Northern California

Website: http://lsnc.net/office/eureka
Address: 123 Third Street, Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 445-0866

Traffic Court Information:

Civil Assessment Form

Traffic Court Phone Number: (530) 621-7464

Financial Hardship? Complete the Ability-to-Pay form and the Request to Vacate Civil Assessment Fee.

Criminal Records Remedies:

El Dorado Superior Court

Website: http://www.eldoradocourt.org/index.html
Address: Placerville Building C Branch, 2850 Fairlane Court, Suite 120, Placerville, CA 95667
Phone: (530) 621-7464

El Dorado County Public Defender’s Office

Website: https://www.edcgov.us/Public-Defender/
Address: 3976 Durock Road, Suite 104, Shingle Springs, CA 95682
Phone: (530) 621-6440

Legal Services of Northern California

Website: http://lsnc.net/office/auburn
Address: 190 Reamer Street, Auburn, CA, 95603
Phone: (530) 823-7560

Traffic Court Information:

Civil Assessment Fee Form

Traffic Court Phone Number: (559) 457-1700

Financial Hardship? Complete the Ability-to-Pay form and the Request to Vacate Civil Assessment Fee. Can be mailed to the courthouse. It can take up to 60 days on the answer for application/order.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? (1) Pay the fine in full, or (2) set up a $50/month payment plan with 10% of the fine down. There is a $35 payment plan fee. Must be put on a payment plan before asking to see the judge. 14601.1 and 12500 cases are filed in misdemeanor court and person must make an appearance in criminal court.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Central California Legal Services

Website: https://www.centralcallegal.org/
Phone: (559) 570-1274
Email: ProBono@CentralCalLegal.org

Capozzi Law

Website: https://www.niccocapozzilaw.com/
Address: 2115 Kern Street, Suite 103, Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 374-2012

Law Offices of Tina M. Barberi, PC

Website: http://www.fresnodefenders.com/expungement-attorney
Address: 7493 N. Ingram Avenue, Suite 103, Fresno, California 93711
Phone: (559) 447-1240

Fresno County Probation Department

Website: http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/Departments.aspx?id=178
Address: 1100 Van Ness Avenue, Room #804, Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 600-3420

Fresno County Public Defender’s Office

Website: http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/Departments.aspx?id=404
Address: 2220 Tulare Street, Suite 300, Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 600-3546
Clean Slate Program
Download (PDF, 140KB)

Traffic Court Information:

Financial Hardship? Complete the Ability-to-Pay form and the Request to Vacate Civil Assessment Fee to the collections agency.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? 10% down on the payment will release the driver’s license.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Glenn County Superior Court

Website: http://www.glenncourt.ca.gov/
Address: 526 West Sycamore Street, #B Willows, CA 95988
Phone: (530) 934-6446

Traffic Court Information:

Form

Traffic Court Phone Number: Pay ticket: (800) 533-0583, Willows Branch: (530) 934-6446, ext. 7002

Financial Hardship? Complete the Ability-to-Pay form and the Request to Vacate Civil Assessment Fee. Call the court for instructions on how to submit the form.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Fine must be paid in full.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Humboldt County Public Defender’s Office

Website: https://humboldtgov.org/1345/Public-Defender
Address: 1001 4th Street, Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 445-7634

Law Offices of Kathleen Bryson

Website: http://www.humboldtjustice.com/
Address: 732 5th Street, Suite C, Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 268-8600

Janssen Malloy LLP

Website: http://janssenlaw.com/
Address: 730 Fifth Street, Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 445-2071

Law Offices of Benjamin Okin

Website: http://www.humdefense.com
Address: 309 O Street, Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 502-3124

Legal Services of Northern California

Website: http://lsnc.net/office/eureka
Address: 123 Third Street, Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 445-0866

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (760) 336-3500; Collections: (760) 336-3510

Financial Hardship? You can write a letter declaring your financial hardship to the judge, if your fine is in collections.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Fine must be paid in full.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Imperial County Probation Department

Website: http://www.co.imperial.ca.us/probation/index.htm
Address: 324 Applestill Road, El Centro, California 92243
Phone: (442) 265-2400

Traffic Court Information:

ATP Request Form (pre-adjudicated cases only – requires a court appearance)

ATP Request Form after FTP (post-adjudicated cases only)

Traffic Court Phone Number: (760) 872-3038

Financial Hardship? If there has not been a court appearance yet (“pre-adjudicated case”), the defendant can make the request to the judge or see the clerk with a completed Ability-to-Pay form. Walk-in court: Independence: Tues 1pm (call about dark days); Bishop: Wed 10am (call about dark days). If the case has already been adjudicated, the Ability-to-Pay form (TR015RC) can be mailed to the court where the citation was filed.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? There are no Failures to Appear. Cases are all adjudicated via a trial in absentia (as a result, court only issues FTPs).

Criminal Records Remedies:

Law Offices of Sophie C. Bidet

Website: http://sophiebidetlaw.com/
Address: 308 W Line Street, Suite 2, Bishop, CA 93514
Phone: (760) 920-6120

Elizabeth Corpora

Address: 308 W Line Street, Suite A, Bishop, CA 93514
Phone: (760) 872-8226

Kristine Eisler

Address: 308 W Line Street, Suite 5, Bishop, CA 93514
Phone: (760) 582-2120

Josh Hillemeier

Address: 308 W Line Street, Suite #4, Bishop, CA 93514
Phone: (760) 462-5845

Stephen Place

Website: http://stephenmplace.com/
Address: 106 S Main Street, Bishop, CA 93514
Phone: (760) 873-8711

Traffic Court Information:

* ATP Request Form: will be available online in October

Traffic Court Phone Number: (661) 868-7208 (Revenue Recovery)

Financial Hardship? ATP form will go live first week in October (available online and only available for cases that have been adjudicated). Individual gets the form online from Revenue Recovery Services. Submit the form to the court by mail or in-person. A judicial officer looks at it, and determines whether the fine can be waived or balance reduced. Individuals then go back to Revenue Recovery and go on a payment plan. If you default on the payment plan, a civil assessment fee will be added. Will need to attach financial documentation or proof that financial status has changed.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? The hold is removed once the defendant appears in court. If a person cannot physically appear in court, they can write a letter to the judge and the written communication counts as an appearance.

Civil Assessment Fee: Revenue Recovery staff will waive or reduce on a case-by-case basis after reviewing circumstances for FTA or FTP.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Kern County Public Defender’s Office

Website: https://www.kerncounty.com/pubdef/contact.aspx
Address: 1315 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 868-4799

Campbell Whitten

Website: http://www.campbellwhitten.com/
Bakersfield Office
- Address: 1712 19th Street, Suite 101, Bakersfield, CA 93301
- Phone: (661) 735-1038
Delano Office
- Address: 1122 Jefferson Street, Delano, CA 93215
- Phone: (661) 720-5813
Lamont Office
- Address: 12022 Main Street, Lamont, CA 93241
- Phone: (661) 868-5731
Mojave Office
- Address: 1775 Highway 58, Mojave, CA 93501
- Phone: (661) 824-7170
Ridgecrest Office
- Address: 400 North China Lake Boulevard, Ridgecrest, Ca. 93555
- Phone: (760) 384-5876
Shafter Office
- Address: 325 Central Valley Highway, Shafter, CA 93263
- Phone: (661) 746-7542
Taft Office
- Address: 315 North Lincoln Street, Taft, CA 93268
- Phone: (661) 763-8585

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (559) 582-1010

Financial Hardship? ATP process is being created. For now, any person with an FTA that meets the following criteria can get back into court to see the judge and request a driver’s license hold be released: Victim of identity theft, incarcerated, in the hospital, deployed for military duty.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? ATP process is being created. For now, any person with an FTA that meets the following criteria can get back into court to see the judge and request a driver’s license hold be released: Victim of identity theft, incarcerated, in the hospital, deployed for military duty.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Central California Legal Services

Website: https://www.centralcallegal.org/
Phone: (559) 570-1274
Email: ProBono@CentralCalLegal.org

Kings County Probation Department

Website: https://www.countyofkings.com/departments/probation-department
Address: 1424 Forum Drive, Hanford, CA 93230
Phone: (559) 582-3211 x2850

Kings County Sheriff’s Office, Records Division

Address: 1570 Kings County Drive, Hanford, CA 93230
Phone: (559) 852-2809

The Martin Law Firm

Website: http://themartinlawfirm.com/index.php
Address: 710 North Irwin Street, Hanford, CA 93230
Phone: (559) 530-3144

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (707) 994-6598

Financial Hardship? There is not an Ability to Pay form, so the defendant must make the request before the judge.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? It depends on the charge on the ticket.

Criminal Records Remedies:

J. David Markham

Website: http://www.jdavidmarkham.com/
Address: 380 North Main Street, Suite I, Lakeport, CA 95453
Phone: (707) 263-7080

Legal Services of Northern California

Website: http://lsnc.net/office/ukiah
Address: 421 North Oak Street, Ukiah, CA 95482
Phone: (707) 462-1471

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (530) 251-8205; Collections Agency Shasta Court (530) 225-5804

Financial Hardship? No formal ability-to-pay process but there is a payment plan option, community service option, and the judge is willing to convert traffic fines to jail time. When fines do not get paid on time, cases go to collections agency (Shasta Court handles all collections). If there is an FTA, must post the funds in full to get court date. Exceptions will be made for people who are overseas in the military, incarcerated, medically incapacitated. Letter must be written to the judge.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Fine must be paid in full.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Lassen County Superior Court

Website: http://www.lassencourt.ca.gov/
Address: 2610 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130
Phone: (530) 251-8205

Lassen County Public Defender’s Office

Address: 2950 Riverside Drive, Suite 103 Susanville, CA 96130
Phone: (530) 251-8312

Legal Services of Northern California

Website: http://lsnc.net/office/redding
Address: 1370 West Street, Redding, CA 96001
Phone: (530) 241-3565

Traffic Court Information:

Los Angeles

Traffic Court Phone Number: (213) 745-3201

Financial Hardship? Complete the Ability-to-Pay form and the Request to Vacate Civil Assessment Fee. Call the court for instructions on how to submit the form.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? You can set a court appearance for any ticket with an FTA. In most courts, upon appearance in court, you can get the FTA hold removed as soon as you appear before a judicial officer.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County

Website: https://www.nlsla.org/
Address: Offices in Glendale, El Monte, and Pacoima
Phone: 800-433-6251

Public Counsel

Website: http://www.publiccounsel.org/home
Address: 610 South Ardmore Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90005
Phone: (213) 385-2977

The LAW Project of Los Angeles

Website: http://lawprojectla.org/index.html
Address: 8939 South Sepulveda, #102, Los Angeles, CA, 90045
Phone: (213) 254-2405

Eisner Gorin LLP

Website: http://www.keglawyers.com/
Address: 1875 Century Park East, Suite #700, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Phone: (310) 328-3776

A New Way of Life Reentry Legal Project

Website: anewwayoflife.org
Address: 9512 South Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90002
Phone: (323) 563-3575

The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

Website: https://lafla.org/
Address: 5228 Whittier Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90022
Phone: (800) 399-4529

Legal Aid Society Community Legal Services of Southeast Los Angeles County

Website: http://www.legal-aid.com/
Address: 725 West Rosecrans Avenue,
Compton, CA 90222
Phone: (310) 638-5524

Starting Over, Inc.

Website: http://startingoverinc.net/
Address: 1390 W. 6^th Street, Suite 100, Corona, CA 92882
Phone: (877) 421-0659

Community Legal Aid SoCal

Website: https://www.communitylegalsocal.org/
Phone: (800) 834-5001 (toll-free) or (714) 571-5200 (local)

Free To Thrive

Criminal vacatur for human trafficking survivors ONLY
Website: https://www.freetothrive.org/
Phone: 619-693-6361 or 619-354-8247 (Español)

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (559) 416-5555

Financial Hardship? Modification Request can be made to the judge (submitted in writing with backup documentation).

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? No holds placed on driver’s licenses.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Richard A. Ciummo & Associates

Website: https://www.ciummolaw.com/
Address: 210 South D Street, Madera, 93638
Phone: (559) 674-4696

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (415) 444-7180

Financial Hardship? The court does not reduce fines/fees in Marin. Payment plans (must complete 12 months, minimum $50/month) and $35 administrative fee which is incorporated into the total. Can complete community service with a $50 community service fee. If the person qualifies, the community service fee will be deducted from the bail amount.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Fine must be paid in full. If FTA, then the case goes into collections unless there is good cause for failure to appear (hospitalized, active military duty, incarcerated). To assert any of these reasons for missing court, you must fill out the form and attach proof in person in Room C-10. Fine reduction/CS/payment are options available on the form. (You can also email traffic@marincourt.org to obtain copy of the form.)

Criminal Records Remedies:

Marin County Public Defender’s Office

Website: https://www.marincounty.org/depts/pd
Address: 3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 139, San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 473-6321

Marin County Probation Department

Address: 3501 Civic Center, Room 259, San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 473-6599

New Beginnings Law Center

Website: nblawcenter.org
Address: 1000 4th Street, Suite 875, San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: (415) 459-2000

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (209) 966-2005

Financial Hardship? The defendant can make the request to the judge.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? The defendant must come by 8:30 a.m., Friday, to discuss DL suspension or request for the hold to be lifted.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Central California Legal Services

Website: https://www.centralcallegal.org/
Phone: (559) 570-1274
Email: ProBono@CentralCalLegal.org

Mariposa County Probation Department

Website: http://www.mariposacounty.org/index.aspx?NID=81
Address: 5091 Bullion Street, Mariposa, CA 95338
Phone: (209) 742-1292

Traffic Court Information:

Ability to Pay Determination Form

Civil Assessment

Traffic Court Phone Number: (707) 463-4660; Mendocino County Collections Department at (707) 234-6850

Financial Hardship? Complete the Ability-to-Pay form and the Request to Vacate Civil Assessment Fee. Call the court for instructions on how to submit the form. The default payment plan structure is: $50/month if 0-$300; $100/month for $300-$2000; $150/month if owe more than $2000-$5000. A person can submit a Financial Declaration to request a lower payment amount.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear in court or pay in full; contact court office to write letter to be reviewed by a judge requesting reduction/payment plans. Releasing a FTP hold requires full payment or an appearance where a request is made of the judge.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Mendocino County Public Defender’s Office

Website:

https://www.mendocinocounty.org/government/mendocino-public-defender

Address: 175 South School Street, Ukiah, CA 95482
Phone: (707) 234-6950

Legal Services of Northern California

Website: http://lsnc.net/office/ukiah
Address: 421 North Oak Street, Ukiah, CA 95482
Phone: (707) 462-1471

Traffic Court Information:

Merced

Traffic Court Phone Number: (209) 725-4107

Financial Hardship? No ability-to-pay process. If first appearance, can request a payment plan in person, by mail or by fax. Judge can reduce fees for walk-ins, can request reduction by mail or fax.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? FTA hold will be removed only when a person makes a full payment. If there is a FTA, or client wishes to remove case from collections, or having civil assessment fee removed, you need to speak to judge at walk-in court M-Thurs 7:30am or write the judge. The court will waive the civil assessment fee in cases of incarceration at the time it went to collections, the person was out of the country due to military leave, or hospitalization.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Central California Legal Services

Website: https://www.centralcallegal.org/
Phone: (559) 570-1274
Email: ProBono@CentralCalLegal.org

Merced County Public Defenders Office

Website: https://www.co.merced.ca.us/81/Public-Defender
Merced Office
- Address: 2150 M Street, Merced, CA 95340
- Phone: (209) 385-7692
Los Banos Office
- Address: 445 I Street, Los Banos, CA 93635
- Phone: (209) 710-6030

Traffic Court Information:

Civil Assessment Petition and Order Form

Traffic Court Phone Number: (530) 233-6515 ext.1221

Financial Hardship? If they live in Modoc, can do community service, which is set up through the probation office ($10/hour). Payment plans are always an option. Reduction/waiver requests can be put on calendar (Traffic Fridays – walk-in court every other Friday starting at 2:00pm). Petitions to vacate civil assessment fee is accepted by mail.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear in court or the defendant must pay the fine in full.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Modoc County Public Defender’s Office

Address: 307 South Main Street, Alturas, CA 96101
Phone: (530) 233-2474

Legal Services of Northern California

Website: http://lsnc.net/office/redding
Address: 1370 West Street, Redding, CA 96001
Phone: (530) 241-3565

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: Fax requests may be directed to (760) 924-5419. E-mails may be sent to: superiorcourt@monocourt.org

Financial Hardship? The defendant writes a letter to the judge requesting “further action.”

Criminal Records Remedies:

Mono County Probation Department

Website: http://www.monocounty.ca.gov/probation
Address: 57 Bryant Street, Bridgeport CA 93517 P.O. Box 596
Phone: (760) 932-5570

Traffic Court Information:

Ability to Pay and Civil Assessment Request Form

Traffic Court Phone Number: (831) 883-5300 option 1, then option 0

Financial Hardship? Submit Ability to Pay form by the due date on your ticket. Once your case has been referred to a collections agency, you must contact them directly to make payment arrangements. If you meet one of the Court’s good cause criteria for failing to appear or pay, you must submit a Petition to Vacate Civil Assessment through the Monterey County Revenue Division. They will review your Petition and if you meet the good cause criteria, the $300 civil assessment will be vacated (but you will still have to pay your original fine)

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Contact collections. You can go on a payment plan and the hold will be removed once you make your first payment.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Monterey County Public Defender’s Office

Website:

http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-i-z/public-defender

Address: 168 West Alisal, 2^nd Floor, Salinas, CA 93901
Phone: (831) 755-5058

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (707) 299-1160

Financial Hardship? If you cannot pay your ticket in full it is immediately referred to collections. The collections agency (CA Services Bureau) decides the amount that monthly payments will be set at. You do not have to ask the judge in order to get placed on a payment plan. You cannot get your fines reduced, but you can ask to do community service or get on a payment plan by filling out a financial statement (1214 petition) and submitting it to collections You can request to vacate a civil assessment fee due to hospitalization, military duty, or another good reason — you will need to fill out a form for this which you can get from the clerks. The judge decides whether to grant your request and you get an answer by mail.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear in court.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Napa County Public Defender’s Office

Website: http://www.countyofnapa.org/PublicDefender/
Address: 1127 First Street, Room 265, Napa, California 94559
Phone: (707) 253-4442

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (530) 265-1311

Financial Hardship? If the court has imposed a fine but you are not yet in collections, you can come to the Clerk’s counter Tues-Friday at 8:00 am and request a “Time Card Review” and go before the judge to ask for consideration of your financial hardship. If you are in collections, you can submit a Failure to Pay packet in person or by mail and the judge will issue a decision within approximately one week. If you signed a payment agreement and waived your right to come back to court, then you cannot ask the judge to vacate a civil assessment fee. If you have a Failure to Appear you could still go before the judge and request that the civil assessment fee be vacated. If you have a Failure to Pay (and did not waive your right to come back to court), you could request that the judge vacate your Civil Assessment fee as part of your FTP Packet submission

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear before the judge, who can remove the hold at her/his discretion, or pay the ticket in full.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Nevada County Public Defender’s Office

Website: https://www.mynevadacounty.com/596/About-the-Public-Defenders-Office
Address: 109 North Pine Street, Nevada City, CA 95959
Phone: (530) 265-1400

Legal Services of Northern California

Website: http://lsnc.net/office/auburn
Address: 101 Providence Mine Road, Suite 106 D, Nevada City, CA 95959
Phone: (530) 470-8562

Traffic Court Information:

Financial Declaration (English)

Financial Declaration (Spanish)

Traffic Court Phone Number: (657) 622-8459, option 2, then option 0

Financial Hardship? If your ticket is not yet in collections, you can go to the clerk’s office and schedule an appearance before the judge regarding your financial hardship (you can also raise ability to pay concerns when you are before the judge for a guilty plea or if you are convicted after trial). You can ask for a payment plan regardless of financial circumstances. If your ticket is in collections, you can submit a financial declaration to request a payment plan that fits your financial circumstances. Attach any proof that you have. The minimum monthly payments will depend on the information you provide in your financial declaration. There is a $35 fee to get on a payment plan. If you have a civil assessment fee, collections supervisors have the authority to vacate these fees if you show good cause for your failure to appear or pay (good cause may be defined as serving in the military overseas, hospitalized, incarcerated, or other extraordinary reason). You can come in person to make this request (bring any proof you have) or mail or fax a request.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear before the judge and the hold will be removed, or set up a payment plan (the hold will be removed once you make your first payment of an initial 10% of the ticket plus a $35 fee).

Criminal Records Remedies:

Orange County Public Defender’s Office

Website: http://www.pubdef.ocgov.com/
Address: 14 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: (714) 834-2144

Legal Aid Society of Orange County and Community Legal Services of Southeast LA

Website: http://www.legal-aid.com/
Santa Ana Office
- Address: 2101 North Tustin Avenue,
  Santa Ana, CA 92705
- Phone: (714) 571-5200
Anaheim Office
- Address: 250 East Center Street,
  Anaheim, CA 92805
- Phone: (714) 571-5200

Community Legal Aid SoCal

Website: https://www.communitylegalsocal.org/
Phone: (800) 834-5001 (toll-free) or (714) 571-5200 (local)

Free To Thrive

Criminal vacatur for human trafficking survivors ONLY
Website: https://www.freetothrive.org/
Phone: 619-693-6361 or 619-354-8247 (Español)

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (916) 408-6000, option 2, then option 2 again

Financial Hardship? Request to go before the judge for a hearing on a request for a Fines and Fees Reduction by going in to the Clerk’s office or calling and requesting to be put on the judge’s calendar. Mon-Fri 8am – 3pm or call and set up a time (Traffic Court is only Monday and Tues, no walk-ins). If you would like to go on a payment plan, you can get the payment plan form from a court clerk. Submit the form to the city collections agency, Placer County Revenue Services If you do not appear in Court, the judge will waive your civil assessment if you come in and pay your fine within 2 weeks. After that, you have 20 more days to go to the clerks and request to be placed on a payment plan and get the civil assessment fee waived (you do not have to go before the judge for this). After that, you would need to appear before the judge or write a letter and the judge could, at her/his discretion, vacate the civil assessment fee.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? If your case is a misdemeanor, you will have to go before the judge and the judge can remove hold at their discretion. Placer County usually does not place holds on licenses for FTAs in infraction cases.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Legal Services of Northern California

Website: http://lsnc.net/office/auburn
Address: 190 Reamer Street, Auburn, CA, 95603
Phone: (530) 823-7560

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (530) 283-6232

Financial Hardship? They are in the process of creating an Ability to Pay form. For now, you can go before the judge to ask for a reduction or modification in your payment. Contact the Clerk’s office in person or by phone to get on calendar. Hearings like this are held on the 4th Friday of each month. There is no walk-in court for this type of appearance. If you have a Failure to Appear, you will need to go to court on the 1st or 3rd Fridays of the month. Call the clerk to get on the court calendar or come at 8:00am. for walk-in court.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? If no civil assessment has been imposed, you can appear on the 1st or 3rd Friday of the month at 8:30am. If there is a civil assessment, appear on the 4th Friday. The judge can remove the FTA hold at her/his discretion.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Plumas County Probation Department

Website: http://www.plumascounty.us/index.aspx?NID=90
Address: 270 County Hospital Road, Suite 128, Quincy, CA 95971
Phone: (530) 283-6200

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (951) 222-0384

Financial Hardship? You can request that the judge consider reducing your fine based on ability to pay at your initial hearing or after being convicted at trial. You can also ask the judge to place you on a payment plan or impose community service. You can also call the traffic collections office and ask to speak to a representative about requesting to be placed on a payment plan based on your ability to pay. You will need to fax or email your income information and proof of any financial obligations and a collections representative will review it and make a determination that same day. To get a civil assessment fee removed, submit a Request to Address Civil Assessment form.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? If you get on a payment plan, the hold will be removed within 48 hours after you make your initial $50 payment.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Riverside County Public Defender’s Office

Website: http://publicdef.co.riverside.ca.us/
Address: 4200 Orange Street, Riverside, CA 92501
Phone: (951) 955-6000

Starting Over, Inc.

Website: http://startingoverinc.net/
Address: 1390 W. 6^th Street, Suite 100, Corona, CA 92882
Phone: (877) 421-0659

Free To Thrive

Criminal vacatur for human trafficking survivors ONLY
Website: https://www.freetothrive.org/
Phone: 619-693-6361 or 619-354-8247 (Español)

Traffic Court Information:

Modification of Sentence Form

Traffic Court Phone Number: (916) 875-7800

Financial Hardship? You can request to go before the judge if your ticket is not in collections. – generally clerks refer people who ask about Ability to Pay to Legal Services. If your ticket is in collections and your case was filed at the Carol Miller Justice Center, you can submit an Ex Parte Application for Modification of Sentence 90 days after your most recent hearing, sentencing, or submission of this application (if you have already submitted this application, your circumstances must have changed in order to file another application). Generally the court will impose community service if it approves your application. Community service will involve paying fees through the sheriff’s office.

Attach supporting documents and bring the form to the clerk’s office or mail it to: Sacramento Superior Court, Traffic Division 301 Bicentennial Circle, Room 100 Sacramento, CA 95826 Community Service is handled through the alternative sentencing division of the sheriff’s office, (916) 874-1400 option 6. You fill out an application with them, they run a background check, review your schedule and set you up with a non-profit organization who will track hours and report back. If you cannot pay community service fees ($80, plus $15-30/day), you can set up a payment plan with the finance office in the alternative sentencing unit. Not clear if there is an option for a waiver of fees, determined on a case by case basis.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Generally you will need to come to court and talk to the judge who might lift the hold. You can also get the hold lifted by going on a payment plan (it will be lifted after your first payment). Clerks can put you on a payment plan and you can make this request by mail. To start a payment plan you will need to pay 10% of the fine immediately and $50 fee.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Sacramento County Public Defender’s Office

Website: http://www.publicdefender.saccounty.net/
Address: 700 H Street, Suite 0270, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 874-6411

American River College

Website: http://www.arc.losrios.edu/legal-clinic
Address: 4700 College Oak Drive, Sacramento, CA
Phone Number: (916) 484-8512

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (831) 636-4057, Option 2

Financial Hardship? If your ticket is not yet in collections, you can ask the clerks in person or by mail to give you an Agreement to Pay and Forfeit Bail in Installments form. Fill out and submit the form and your first payment in person or by mail. Minimum payments are $75 per month, but you could go before the judge (by going to the clerk’s office or calling them and getting on the judge’s calendar) and request that the judge impose a reduced monthly payment plan. It is possible that the judge might set the fine below $75. Walk-in court is Friday 8:00 to 10:00 am. Get there at 8:00 or earlier.

If your ticket is in collections you will have to go through the Franchise Tax Board to request changes to your payment. When a case gets sent to collections you should get a 10 day notice which gives you an option to pay in full and file a petition to vacate the civil assessment fee. After that you generally cannot get that fee vacated.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Come to walk-in court on Fridays between 8 AM and 10, AM. The hold will be removed once you appear (or you could pay in full instead of appearing).

Criminal Records Remedies:

San Benito County Superior Court

Website: http://www.sanbenito.courts.ca.gov/
Address: 440 5th Street, Room 205, San Benito, CA 95023
Phone: (831) 636-4057

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (909) 350-9322 option 1 or (909) 387-1470 for Failure to Pay cases and payments via credit card

Financial Hardship? Everything is at the discretion of the judge, including requests to reduce fines and fees or modify payment plans. You can come to the clerk’s window or call the clerk’s office to request to see the judge. The clerks set hearings 4 days out. Hearings can occur any day of the week at 8:30 A.M. or 1:30 P.M., except Wednesday and Friday mornings which are set aside for trials only.

Payment plans are a $35 one-time fee but if you fail to pay and need the plan reinstated then you have to pay an extra $30. To request to get the monthly payment amount reduced you can write to the judge or appear before the judge. If you write a letter, the judge will issue a written response that will be mailed to you.

If your ticket is in collections you generally have to go through collections to address difficulty with payments, not the judge (But it depends on the circumstance, and you can always go to the clerks and ask to go before the judge who, at her/his discretion might issue an order on the fees).

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear before the judge and the hold will be removed (or you could pay in full instead of appearing).

Criminal Records Remedies:

San Bernardino County Public Defender’s Office

Website: http://sbpubdef.com/
Address: 364 North Mountain View Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92415
Phone: (909) 387-8373

Traffic Court Information:

San Diego

Traffic Court Phone Number: (858) 634-1800 dial 3, then dial 7. Phone hours 8:30 -AM to 11:30 AM.

Financial Hardship? The Court accepts letters claiming financial hardship. You can ask for a reduction in fines, community service, or a payment plan. You can also request to vacate your civil assessment fee in a letter. There are no specific requirements in terms of documenting financial hardship but it is helpful to attach proof.

If you want to set up a payment plan you do not have to write the judge; you can do that online. There is a $35 fee to go on a payment plan.

Alternatively, you can appear in court instead of writing a letter and ask the commissioner to consider your financial circumstances. There are no walk-in appointments so you need to call the clerks or set up an appointment online. However, if your ticket is in collections you have to go to the courthouse in person to get a hearing date. It takes about a week generally to get before the judge. You can, however, still write a letter to the judge and get a written response if your ticket is in collections.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear in court or pay in full

Criminal Records Remedies:

San Diego County Public Defender’s Office

Website: http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/public_defender/
Address: 450 B Street, Suite 900, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 338-4700

San Diego Clean Slate Clinic

Website: http://www.sd-csc.org/
Email: sdreentryclinic@gmail.com
San Diego Office Address: South Metro Career Center, 4389 Imperial Avenue, San Diego, CA 92113
North County Office Address: County Live Well Building, 649 W. Mission Avenue, Escondido, CA 92025

Free To Thrive

Criminal vacatur for human trafficking survivors ONLY
Website: https://www.freetothrive.org/
Phone: 619-693-6361 or 619-354-8247 (Español)

Traffic Court Information:

Instructions for Petition to Vacate Civil Assessment

Traffic Court Phone Number: (415) 551-8550

Financial Hardship? Fill out Ability to Pay form, attach bank statement and proof of benefits (if applicable), submit to the clerk’s office or mail it in (but send it certified mail because due to high mail volumes it can take a long time for the mail to be processed).

If your ticket is in collections you can still submit an Ability to Pay form but the judge will not put you on a payment plan — collections handles payment plans at that point.

If you have a civil assessment fee you can ask the clerks for the request form to ask the court to vacate that fee.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Pay in full

Criminal Records Remedies:

San Francisco County Public Defender’s Office

Website: http://sfpublicdefender.org/
Address: 555 7th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: (415) 553-1671

Traffic Court Information:

San Joaquin

Financial Declaration *Note – San Joaquin County is currently in the process of creating an updated Ability to Pay form

Traffic Court Phone Number: (209) 992-5692

Financial Hardship? Call the clerk’s office to request a court date for a judge to consider your ability to pay. You can also go to walk-in court. You can request that the judge order community service, a payment plan, or a reduction in fines due to your ability to pay. You will have to complete a Financial Declaration. You can also ask the judge to vacate your civil assessment fee.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear in court and the hold will be removed.

Criminal Records Remedies:

San Joaquin County Public Defender’s Office

Website: https://www.sjgov.org/pubdefender/
Address: 102 South San Joaquin Street, Room 1, Stockton, CA 95202
Phone: (209) 468-2730

Traffic Court Information:

Petition to Vacate Civil Assessment

Petition to Appear on a Failure to Appear without Posting Bail

Financial Declaration

Traffic Court Phone Number: (805) 781-5143; Phone Hours are 8:30am – 4:30pm M-Th

Financial Hardship? Call or go to the clerk’s office and ask to go before the judge to request a reduction in fines or a payment plan based on your ability to pay. Commissioner decides — request to appear before them. You can come in at 8:30 A.M. on Tuesday if your case is in South County. In North County, traffic court is every Wednesday at 12:30. In Central County you can come to traffic court on Thursdays at 8:30 A.M. You can bring in any financial forms you want to show the judge.

If you do not have a Failure to Appear and this is not your initial appearance on the ticket, you can also ask a traffic court clerk to put you on a payment plan or community service (this does not have to go through the judge). There are two payment plan options:

1) Pay $30 to start, must pay in full within 90 days

2) Pay $35 to start, $50 to $100 per month after that

If you have a Failure to Appear, you can call or go to the clerk’s office and request to go before the judge, who decides whether you can do community service or go on a payment plan. You will need to complete a Petition to Appear on an FTA without Posting Bail.

If your ticket is in collections and you want to request a change in what you must pay, you will need to submit a GC Services Petition. The judge will issue a decision on your petition.

You can also request to vacate a civil assessment fee by submitting a Petition to Vacate Civil Assessment. You will have to appear before the judge for this.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Submit a petition to appear on FTA without posting bail (or you can pay the ticket in full).

Criminal Records Remedies:

San Luis Obispo Public Defender’s Office

Address: 991 Osos Street, Suite A, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Phone: (805) 541-5715

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (650) 363-4300

Financial Hardship? Appear before the judge to request a reduction in fines, payment plan, or community service based on financial hardship. To set a date for a hearing you can call the clerks’ office, go in person, or do it online. There is no walk-in court.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? You can get the hold removed by paying in full OR by setting up a payment plan (the hold is removed when you make your first payment which is usually half the total fine), OR if your ticket is still in “active” status, you can schedule a court date and appear before the judge and the hold will usually be removed (without you having to pay first).

Criminal Records Remedies:

San Mateo County Bar Association

Website: https://www.smcba.org/
Address: 333 Bradford Street, Suite 200, Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: (650) 369 4149

Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto

Website: https://clsepa.org/
Address: 1861 Bay Road, East Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone: (650) 326-6440

Stanford Community Law Clinic

Website: https://law.stanford.edu/community-law-clinic/#slsnav-clc-blog
Address: 2117 University Avenue, Suite A, East Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone: (650) 725-9200

San Mateo County Probation Department

Website: http://probation.smcgov.org/
Address: 400 County Center, 5th floor, Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: (650) 363-4244

Lawyers Committee For Civil Rights

Website: https://www.lccr.com/
Phone: (415) 814-7610

Traffic Court Information:

ATP Financial Declaration

Traffic Court Phone Number: (805) 568-3959

Financial Hardship? Generally the court considers ATP petitions before the initial appearance/imposition of a fine. Submit the ATP paperwork to a clerk or mail it in and the judge will make a decision about your initial fine based on that. If your ticket has been ruled on by a judge already, you might be able to submit an ATP petition afterwards if you did not raise financial concerns at the initial appearance. You will not need to appear before the judge — you will receive an answer by mail. The financial affidavit portion of the ATP form constitutes a plea of guilt and request for a reduction so if you’re pleading not guilty at the initial appearance you wouldn’t submit the form. If you already asked the judge for a reduction at your initial appearance you can’t file the ATP form once the judge has ruled on that request already If your ticket is with the Franchise Tax Board (it is sent there if Enhanced Court Collections cannot collect the fine from you), then you can no longer ask for an ATP determination.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? If you get on a payment plan, the hold will be removed after you make your first payment.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Santa Barbara County Public Defender’s Office

Website: https://www.countyofsb.org/defender
Address: 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: (805) 568-3470

Traffic Court Information:

Petition to Vacate Civil Assessment

Traffic Court Phone Number: (408) 556-3000

Financial Hardship? *Note – Santa Clara County is currently formulating a new process to address Ability to Pay concerns. Currently, you can write a letter to the judge with as much detail as possible explaining your financial hardship. The judge will issue a written decision which will be mailed to you. It is up to the judge what kind of relief (payment plan, reduction, community service) you get based on financial hardship. If your ticket is in collections and you have a civil assessment fee, submit a Civil Assessment petition to the clerk in person or by mail. Attach as much proof as possible for the reason for failure to appear or pay. The judge will issue a written response which will be mailed to you.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear in court and the hold will be removed

Criminal Records Remedies:

Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office

Website: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/pdo/Pages/pdo.aspx
Address: 120 West Mission Street, San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 299-7700

Traffic Court Information:

Ability to Pay Plea Form

Modification Request Form

Traffic Court Phone Number: (831) 420-2200

Financial Hardship? If your ticket is not in collections, fill out and submit (via mail or fax or in person) Plea Form SUPTVM057 to request an Ability to Pay determination. If you have a Failure to Pay or are already on a payment plan, complete Form SUPTVM056 instead (this is a modification request). You can request a reduction in monthly payments, modification in payments, or community service. You do not have to appear in court, and you will get response in the mail. The court will freeze your payment deadlines while they are making a decision about your request.

You cannot directly ask the court for a reduction when your ticket is in collections. You will need to contact the collections agency. They have their own financial hardship forms which they will send you. You can then return the completed forms to the collections office which will review them and sends them to the judge to make the ultimate decision on a reduction/modification request.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? The collections agency handles the process. If you get on a payment plan the hold will be cleared after your first payment.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Santa Cruz County Public Defender’s Office

Website: http://www.scdefenders.com/
Address: 2103 North Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: (831) 429-1311

Watsonville Law Center

Website: http://www.watsonvillelawcenter.org/
Address: 315 Main Street, Suite #207, Watsonville, CA 95076
Phone: (831) 722-2845

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (530) 245-6789, press 2 then press 0

Financial Hardship? You can call the clerks’ office to schedule a date to go before the judge to request an Ability to Pay hearing. Alternatively, you can write to the judge to request a fine reduction or payment plan, and get a written response [this is contrary to the court’s website}. There is a $50 fee for payment plans. The minimum payment per month is $50. Clerks can approve community service requests. If your ticket is in collections, you will need to contact that office to address your ability to pay. They will also handle requests related to civil assessment fees.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? You can get the hold removed by paying the full bail amount OR by setting up a payment plan (the hold is removed when you sign the payment plan papers), OR you can appear before the judge and the hold will be removed. If you get the hold removed by paying or going on a payment plan but you do not appear before the judge, you will still have a misdemeanor for failing to appear on your record until you go before the judge to request an order to remove that from your record.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Legal Services of Northern California

Website: https://lsnc.net/office/redding
Address: 1370 West Street, Redding, CA 96001
Phone: (530) 241-3565

Traffic Court Information:

*Sierra County expects to be launching a new website in the near future which will have the Ability to Pay form available. In the meantime, you can ask for the form in court or call the clerk’s office and they’ll mail or email it to you

Traffic Court Phone Number: (530) 289-3698

Financial Hardship? Complete Ability to Pay form and submit it to the clerks. You will need to appear in court for the judge to make an ability to pay determination. If you cannot come to court the judge will typically approve a phone-in hearing.

You can still submit the Ability to Pay form if your ticket is in collections. However, if you just want to get on a payment plan you can go through collections for that.

You can also call the clerk’s office and ask to go before the judge to request to vacate your civil assessment fee. Sierra County is working on a form for this request but it is not yet available

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear in court and the hold will be removed

Criminal Records Remedies:

Sierra County Probation Department

Website: http://www.sierracounty.ca.gov/index.aspx?NID=268
Address: 100 Courthouse Square, 2nd Floor, P.O. Box 67, Downieville, CA 95936
Phone: (530) 289-3277

Legal Services of Northern California

Website: http://lsnc.net/office/auburn
Address: 190 Reamer Street, Auburn, CA, 95603
Phone: (530) 823-7560

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (530) 842-8189

Financial Hardship? You must appear before a judge to request a reduction in fines and fees or to do community service. If your ticket is not in collections, call the clerks’ office and ask what the walk-in dates are (the court website also shows traffic court walk-in dates).

You do not have to appear in court to get on a payment plan as long as the ticket is not in collections. Call the clerks and they can send a payment plan contract if the ticket is not yet in collections.

If your ticket is in collections, you will need to go before the judge to request a change to your fines and fees, but you cannot do it via walk-in court. You will have to call the clerk’s office in advance and request a calendared date (this can take a few months).

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear and request that the judge remove the hold — removal is at the judge’s discretion.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Siskiyou County Public Defender’s Office

Website: https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/page/public-defenders-office
Address: 402 4th Street, Yreka, CA 96097
Phone: (530) 842-8105

Legal Services of Northern California

Website: http://lsnc.net/office/redding
Address: 1370 West Street, Redding, CA 96001
Phone: (530) 241-3565

Traffic Court Information:

ATP and Civil Assessment Request Form (if ticket is NOT in collections)

ATP and Civil Assessment Request Form (if ticket IS in collections)

Traffic Court Phone Number: (707) 561-7860

Financial Hardship? Fill out Ability to Pay form. Attach proof of your income. Turn the form in to the clerks or mail it in. You will get an answer in the mail or by phone. If the ticket is non-delinquent you could also appear in court and ask the judge for community service or a reduction in the fine.

If you have a Failure to Pay or Failure to Appear but the ticket is not in collections, you can call the clerks and get on calendar to see the judge about your ability to pay (you will need to appear in court). Walk-in court is only available for new tickets. It takes about a week to get on calendar in Vallejo

If your ticket is in collections you will need to go through their office to address ability to pay concerns. Collections (GC Services) has a separate ATP/Civil Assessment Vacate Request Declaration form. Collections will screen your application and let you know if you qualify for your request to be submitted to the judge.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear in court and the hold will be removed.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Legal Services of Northern California

Website: http://lsnc.net/office/vallejo
Address: 1810 Capitol Street, Vallejo, CA 94590
Phone: (707) 643-0054

Solano County Public Defender’s Office

Address: 675 Texas Street, Suite 3500, Fairfield CA 94533
Phone: (707) 784-6700

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (707) 521-6680

Financial Hardship? For the initial hearing you have a minimum of 60 days to come in to walk-in court (which is held daily). At that hearing you can request community service or raise ability to pay concerns. If you don’t appear, there will be a trial in absentia and the judge can find you guilty and impose a fine.

You can then go to court and ask for community service or submit an Ability to Pay form to the clerks. You can get the form in person or call the clerk’s office and they will mail or fax it to you. If the judge has questions about your request they will set a hearing, otherwise they will issue a written decision that will be mailed to you. If you just want to modify your payment plan, you can write a letter to the judge who will issue a written response.

You can still submit the Ability to Pay form if your ticket is in collections, but if you have a Failure to Appear you will need to come to court and then you can submit the form.

There is no form to request to vacate a civil assessment fee but you can write a letter to the judge explaining why you failed to appear or pay and the judge will issue a written response.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear in court to get the hold removed. Call the clerks to get on the judge’s calendar. If your ticket is in collections they will place you on the calendar on a Thursday (that is when collections cases are heard). If you schedule a hearing and you appear, the license hold is released. They will also release the hold if you don’t appear but you pay the fine in full.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Sonoma County Public Defender’s Office

Address: 600 Administration Drive, Room 111J, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Phone: (707) 565-2791

Traffic Court Information:

Motion and Declaration Form

Motion and Declaration Instructions

Traffic Court Phone Number: (209) 530-3100, option 1

Financial Hardship? * Note – Stanislaus County is currently formulating a new process to address Ability to Pay concerns. Currently, to request a reduction or modification in fines your option is to submit a letter to the commissioner and get a written answer in the mail. You can do that even if the ticket is in collections. If your case is NOT yet in collections but the court has imposed a civil assessment fee, you can fill out a form and submit it to the clerk’s office to request that the fee be vacated. You will get a decision by mail as long as you include a self-addressed stamped envelope. If the ticket IS in collections, you have to write a motion to vacate the civil assessment rather than filling out the form. Motion hearings take months to schedule (as of 6/28/17 motion hearings are being set for November)

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear in court on FTA walk-in day. (Wednesdays, 8:00am to 9:30am). Ask the judge to remove the hold.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Stanislaus County Public Defender’s Office

Website: http://www.stancounty.com/publicdefender/
Address: 1021 I Street, Suite 201, P.O. Box 3428, Modesto, CA 95354
Phone: (209) 525-4200

Traffic Court Information:

ATP Financial Declaration

Traffic Court Phone Number: (530) 822-3303

Financial Hardship? Request (via Ability to Pay form) to go before judge to ask for a modification in payment or reduction in fines. Turn the form in to the clerks or mail it in (you cannot email or fax it because they need the original signature).

You will be seen by the judge during weekly traffic court which is held on Monday afternoons.

If you have a civil assessment fee but you have good cause for not appearing or paying, you can fill out a petition to vacate your civil assessment fee. You will not need to go before the judge for this — you will get an answer by mail.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear before the judge and the hold will be removed

Criminal Records Remedies:

Mark Van Den Heuvel

Address: 604 B Street, Suite 1, Yuba City, CA 95991
Phone: (209) 525-4200

California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.

Website: www.crla.org
Address: 511 D Street, Marysville, CA 95901
Phone: (530) 742-5191

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (530) 527-3563, Press 1 then 7

Financial Hardship? You can get on a payment plan by submitting a letter pleading guilty and requesting to go on a payment plan. The clerks will mail you a payment plan agreement. Clerks can only authorize 3 month payment plans, and there is a $35 fee to get on a plan. If you need more than 3 months to pay, call the clerks to get your case placed on calendar and request a longer-term payment plan from the judge. If the judge grants your request then you will not have to pay a fee to get on the payment plan and there is no minimum amount you have to pay per month as long as you pay the full ticket amount by the date the judge sets. You can also request to satisfy your ticket by doing community service. To do this you will need to go before the judge. There is no fee to do community service.

If your case is in collections you cannot get on a payment plan — the court cannot make an order on the case anymore. If you are already on a payment plan and are in collections and you cannot make the minimum monthly payments because your financial circumstances changed (e.g. you lost job/got sick.etc.), first contact collections by calling them and see if you can work out a modified payment plan. However, they generally will not put people on payment plans lower than $50 per month (and the minimum could be higher if your fine is larger). If the minimum amount is too high for you to afford, you can ask collections to mail you a financial declaration to request to get your monthly payment amount lowered below the minimum.

If your case is in collections you will not be able to ask the judge to vacate the civil assessment fee.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Contact the Collections office and get a Promise to Pay form from them, and make a down payment (the down payment is usually half the fine but collections might lower that initial payment it if you agree to pay a higher amount each month). The hold will be removed once you make your down payment.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Self Help Assistance and Referral Program

Website: http://tehamacourt.ca.gov/help.htm
Address: 1740 Walnut Street, Red Bluff ,CA 96080
Phone: (530) 527-8649

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (530) 623-1208

Financial Hardship? Go before the judge to request a reduction. Come to walk-in traffic court between 8:00am and 9:00am on one of three Thursdays each month (walk-in court is always three Thursdays per month but which Thursdays it is varies). You can also get on a payment plan by filling out a Promise to Pay form. There is a $35 fee.

If you have a civil assessment fee, you can also request to go before the judge to ask that the fee be vacated.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Appear in court and the hold will be removed.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Trinity County Probation Department

Website: http://www.trinitycounty.org/index.aspx?page=78
Address: P.O. Box 158, 333 Tom Bell Road, Weaverville, CA 96093
Phone: (530) 623-1204 ext. 129

Legal Services of Northern California

Website: http://lsnc.net/office/redding
Address: 1370 West Street, Redding, CA 96001
Phone: (530) 241-3565

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (559) 730-5000

Financial Hardship? If your ticket is not yet in collections, you can request to go before the judge to ask for a reduction due to financial hardship.

If your ticket is in collections, you can submit a Fines and Fees reduction request form to the collections unit. The traffic clerks and the collections unit will fax the form upon request. The collections unit will determine if you qualify for a payment plan modification (which they can place you on without referring your case to the judge) and/or if your case should be referred to the judge regarding a fine or fee reduction.

If you have a civil assessment fee you can write a letter explaining your circumstances and requesting that the fee be vacated. You may need to appear in court to get the fee removed.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? If you have a mandatory appearance, you will need to appear in court and the judge might remove the hold. If you do not have a mandatory appearance, you can get the hold removed by setting up a payment plan with collections and making your first payment (if your ticket is with court collections and has not been sent to an outside collections agency, monthly payments are usually set at $150 per month).

Criminal Records Remedies:

Central California Legal Services

Website: https://www.centralcallegal.org/
Phone: (559) 570-1274
Email: ProBono@CentralCalLegal.org

Tulare County Public Defender’s Office

Website: http://tularecountypublicdefender.com
Visalia Office
- Address: 221 South Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, CA 93291
- Phone: (559) 636-4500
Porterville Office
- Address: 633 North Westwood Street, Porterville, CA 93257
- Phone: (559) 782-6960

Superior Court of Tulare County

Website: http://www.tularesuperiorcourt.ca.gov/
Address: 221 South Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, CA 93291
Phone: (559) 730-5000

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (209) 533-5563

Financial Hardship? You have 4 weeks to send in the full payment or to come before the judge for a payment plan or community service request. You can also contact the clerks’ office and request to go on a payment plan. They will mail you an Agreement to Pay, which you will need to return to them (along with an administrative fee) before the due date on your ticket. There is an 18 month payment plan option or community service option in lieu of the payment plan. There is a one-time extension allowable by the clerk. If you need more time, go to the clerks’ office and ask to go before the judge to request a modified payment plan due to financial hardship.

After that, there is a 2 week warning notice period during which you can still come before the judge for the same requests. After that, the ticket is sent to collections. You then have 20 days to contact the court to request to get your Civil Assessment fee removed or set up a payment plan with the revenue recovery office.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? You will need to pay your fines and fees in full.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Central California Legal Services

Website: https://www.centralcallegal.org/
Phone: (559) 570-1274
Email: ProBono@CentralCalLegal.org

Tuolumne County Probation Department

Website: https://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/337/Probation-Department
Address: 465 South Washington Street, Sonora, CA 95370
Phone: (209) 533-7500

Tuolumne County Public Defender’s Office

Website: https://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/432/Public-Defender
Address: 99 North Washington Street, Sonora, CA 95370
Phone: (209) 533-6370

Traffic Court Information:

Traffic Court Phone Number: (805) 289-8545

Financial Hardship? You can ask for a reduction in fines by going to the clerk’s office and getting on the calendar to see a judge about your financial hardship. (if you get there before 12:30pm you can generally see the judge that same day).

If your ticket is in collections, you can request to go on a payment plan by calling the Superior Court Collection Unit at (805) 639-5010. Their telephone hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 7:00pm Monday through Friday, and from 8:00am to 4:30pm on Saturday. You can also contact the Collection Unit at court-collections@ventura.courts.ca.gov.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? Arrange with collections to come in and apply for a payment plan with them so that the hold can be removed. The hold will be removed within 5 days after you make your first payment. You will have to fill out a written payment agreement in person if you’re in collections — the collections unit can mail you the form if you live far away. You can also appear in court and the Judge might agree to remove the hold.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Ventura County Public Defender’s Office

Website: https://www.pubdef.countyofventura.org/
Address: 800 South Victoria Avenue, Room 207, Ventura, CA 93009
Phone: (805) 654-2201

Traffic Court Information:

Civil Assessment Motion

Traffic Court Phone Number: (530) 406-6702

Financial Hardship? If your ticket is not in collections, you can go to the clerk’s office and set up an ability to pay hearing. If you have already had a fine imposed by the judge but the ticket is not yet with an outside collections agency. You can also call the clerks to get on a payment plan (the clerks can make this decision without you needing to go before the judge).

If the ticket has been referred to an outside collections agency, you will need to submit a letter to the judge explaining your inability to pay and attach any supporting documents that you have. The judge can then set a hearing or issue a written decision that will be mailed to you.

If you have a civil assessment fee, you can file a Motion to Vacate Civil Assessment. There is a $60 filing fee. The judge reviews your motion and responds in writing.

Driver’s License Hold/Suspension for Failure to Appear? If you have an infraction case, to remove the hold you can appear in court, OR pay in full OR go see the clerks in person and get on a payment plan. When the first payment is made the hold is lifted.

If it’s a misdemeanor case you will need to appear to get the FTA hold lifted.

Criminal Records Remedies:

Yolo County Public Defender’s Office

Website: http://www.yolocounty.org/law-justice/public-defender
Address: 814 North Street, Woodland, CA 95695
Phone: (530) 666-8165

Legal Services of Northern California

Website: http://lsnc.net/office/woodland
Address: 619 North Street, Woodland, CA 95695
Phone: (530) 662-1065

Traffic Court Information: