Glossary of Traffic Ticket Terms

Please refer to the Glossary below for information on general court terminology and Traffic Ticket, Traffic Violation and/or Traffic Infraction terms. If you do not see a term you are looking for, please feel free to contact one of our Traffic Ticket Experts at 800 850-8038 or visit our main Ticket Busters of California site at http://www.TicketBust.com

APPEAL — The act of removing a case to a higher Court for review and potential revision of the lower Court’s judicial action.
BAIL – (noun) The surety or sureties who procure the release of a person under arrest; by becoming responsible for his appearance at the time and place designated. Those persons who become sureties for the appearance of the defendant in Court. (verb) To free a person arrested or imprisoned, on security being taken for his appearance on a day and a place certain before the Court, which security is called “bail”; to deliver the defendant to persons who become security for his appearance in Court.
BAIL AMOUNT – Amount of fines and/or fees that must be paid for the traffic infraction, traffic violation or traffic ticket. As required by the court, when using a Trial by Written Declaration, you must pay your bail (the fine of your ticket) up-front when processing your paperwork. When you mail your documents include a check payable to Superior Court for your bail amount. If you do not know the bail amount or if you have not received your courtesy notice from the court, call the court to get the bail amount for your citation. Will you get your bail back if found “not guilty”? Yes. If you are found “not guilty,” the court will return the bail to the person that paid it within 60-90 days.
BAILIFF — A Court Attaché who maintains courtroom order, security and jury custody. In Traffic Court, this is the officer who will take any documents needed from you and provide them to the Judge. Under no circumstances should you ever approach the Judge when providing documents or other proof regarding your traffic ticket, traffic violation or traffic infraction.
CALENDAR — The cases set for hearing or trial in a specific department, on a given date and time, are referred to collectively as that department’s calendar.
CALENDARED — A case which has been set for a specific date, time and department, whether for hearing or trial, is said to have been calendared.
CHP — California Highway Patrol
CITATION — (a) A form of writ issued by a Court commanding the cite to appear in Court in a specific date and time; (b) A reference to a specific code section or case used in support of a legal argument or opinion; (c) A traffic ticket issued to document alleged violation of a Vehicle Code Section.
CITY COURT — Finding a City Court
CONTEMPT — A willful disregard of the authority of a Court or judicial or legislative body, or disobedience to its lawful orders.
COTS — California Office of Traffic Safety
DISMISSAL — An order or judgment finally disposing of an action, suit, motion, etc., without a trial of the issues involved.
DMV — California Department of Motor Vehicles, California DMV Publications
DMV Abstract (Criminal and Juvenile Traffic Divisions) — A form which is completed to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles in Sacramento of the disposition of violations of specified sections of the Vehicle Code and some Penal Code sections.
FAILURE TO APPEAR – If you (1) skip out on your court date, (2) decide not to show up for court, (3) forget to show up for court, or (4) show up on the wrong day, it is considered Failure to Appear on your court date. When you signed your traffic ticket, you made a promise to either go to court or, in some cases, pay the fine. If you do not go to court or pay your fine, your driver’s license can be suspended. In addition, you may not be able to renew your car’s registration. The judge can also charge you with “failure to pay a fine.” If that happens, the court can charge you with a misdemeanor and issue a warrant for your arrest or add an additional fee (called a “civil assessment”) of up to $300.
POINTS — Points are what show up on your California driving record and can cause your license to be revoked or suspended depending on the number you have in a given period of time. If found guilty of your traffic ticket, traffic infraction or traffic violation, after you pay your fine, points may show up on your DMV record unless you can go to traffic school. If the court lets you go to traffic school and you turn in your proof of completion of traffic school to the court before the deadline, the points should not show up on your record. If you get points on your record, your insurance company may ask you to pay more for insurance because of this, or they may cancel your policy and tell you to find insurance elsewhere. Points can stay on your record for 3 to 7 years.
SKIPPING OUT ON COURT DATE – If you (1) decide not to show up for court, (2) forget to show up for court, or (3) show up on the wrong day, it is considered skipping out on your court date. When you signed your traffic ticket, you made a promise to either go to court or, in some cases, pay the fine. If you do not go to court or pay your fine, your driver’s license can be suspended. In addition, you may not be able to renew your car’s registration. The judge can also charge you with “contempt of court” or “failure to pay a fine.” If that happens, the court can charge you with a misdemeanor and issue a warrant for your arrest or add an additional fee (called a “civil assessment”) of up to $300.
TR-205 – see Trial by Written Declaration.
TR-205 Form – A fillable PDF form can be accessed at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms/fillable/tr205.pdf.
TR-220 – See Trial De Novo.
TR-220 Form – A fillable PDF form can be accessed at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms/fillable/tr220.pdf
TRAFFIC FINES – The fee that the State of California Vehicle Code has established for your specific Traffic violation. For more information on Traffic Fines and paying fines, visit Payment of Traffic Fines
TRAFFIC SCHOOL — If found guilty of your traffic ticket, traffic infraction or traffic violation, after you pay your fine, points may show up on your DMV record unless you can go to traffic school. If the court lets you go to traffic school and you turn in your proof of completion of traffic school to the court before the deadline, the points should not show up on your record. The court can tell you what you need to do to be able to go to traffic school. If this is your first ticket and the court lets you go to traffic school, you should not get any points on your record. In addition to the court fees, the traffic school will also charge you for the class. It will take a whole day to complete. Some courts let you go to traffic school on the Web. As long as you have not been to traffic school in the last 18 months and the court honors traffic school for the type of violation you committed, you will get traffic school upon requesting it from the judge. According to Vehicle Code section 42005 and pertaining to People vs. Wozniak, you can still have the option to attend traffic school even after you have been found guilty of the alleged violation.
TRAFFIC TICKET ATTORNEY – A ‘Traffic Ticket Attorney’ is a misleading term. There are plenty of attorneys that will handle your traffic ticket, but they are not classified as ‘Traffic Ticket’ Attorneys with the California State Bar. If an attorney does accept your case to fight traffic ticket (especially an infraction), be leery! You can go to traffic court without a lawyer. If you want a lawyer for a traffic infraction (like speeding or running a red light), you can hire one, but the court will not give you one. We at TicketBust.com believe that using our service to fight your traffic ticket is a much better approach! For some misdemeanors like driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it is a good idea to have a lawyer. If you cannot afford one, the court will give you one.
TRAFFIC TICKET LAWYER – A ‘Traffic Ticket Lawyer’ is a misleading term. There are plenty of lawyers that will handle your traffic ticket, but they are not classified as ‘Traffic Ticket’ Lawyers with the California State Bar. If a lawyer does accept your case to fight a traffic ticket (especially an infraction), be leery! You can go to traffic court without a lawyer. If you want a lawyer for a traffic infraction (like speeding or running a red light), you can hire one, but the court will not give you one. We at TicketBust.com believe that using our service to fight your traffic ticket is a much better approach! For some misdemeanors like driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it is a good idea to have a lawyer. If you cannot afford one, the court will give you one.
Trial by Written Declaration – or TR-205. Vehicle Code Section 40902 allows the defendant (you the cited driver) to contest citations in writing, without having to make a personal appearance in court. A Trial by Written Declaration is available in cases involving infractions of the Vehicle Code or of local ordinances of the Vehicle Code. Violations eligible for a Trial by Written Declaration must be infractions only. Misdemeanors and cases involving accidents are ineligible for a Trial by Written Declaration. A fillable PDF form can be accessed at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms/fillable/tr205.pdf.
Trial De Novo — or TR-220. Trial De Novo means “all things are new” (Judge, Venue and Evidence) and is in court, in person. Do you need legal representation in court for a Trial De Novo? Once you process the request with the court for a new trial on your own behalf, you will have to make the personal appearance in court yourself. Law firms are available for legal representation in court, but are not mandatory. We are strictly a professional filing agency and not a law firm, so we do not offer representation for you in court. A fillable PDF form can be accessed at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms/fillable/tr220.pdf
VC – California’s Vehicle Code

PublicCEO.com Cites Steve Miller as a Red Light Camera Ticket Expert

Steve Miller, CEO of Ticket Busters of California was accredited as a red light camera ticket expert in an article, Issues Surround Red Light Cameras, published October 12th, 2009 on PublicCEO.com as follows:

“More than 100 cities in California have red-light cameras. The number of cities (and number of intersections) is increasing, said Steve Miller, the president of Ticketbust.com, a Westlake Village company that offers customers their money back if the firm cannot enable them to get red-light camera tickets dismissed or reduced.

The company is a document-filing service for California trial by written declarations that offers customers a way to contest a ticket without going to court, Miller said. The company provides knowledge of court systems and decisions that have cited red-light camera contract language for indirectly encouraging the writing of more tickets if revenues flag.

The company taps into public outrage expressed in blogs and city council meetings, particularly in Southern California, over issues of entrapment, incentives and expense. The tickets typically exceed $400 — after allowances for the vendors’ cut, and distributions to the city, county and state as regulated by state vehicle code.“

To read the entire article, Issues Surround Red Light Cameras, please follow this link Issues Surround Red Light Cameras

Another Stellar Traffic Ticket Client Testimonial

“Dear Steve. As I said over the phone, all my counts were dismissed and they are refunding me the $436, I sent through you to the court. You people did a great job and I thank you for your skills in handling these matters.”

Max F., Sherman Oaks, California

Anothor Success Story Where Ticket Busters Beat a Speeding Ticket

“Here’s my story and I hope it forfills you with enrichment and that it gives
you inspiration. Recently an officer pulled me over claiming I was doing 65
down a hill in my Big Rig in a 55 mph posted speed limit. I was shocked with
thoughts randomly crossing my mind points,costs,how would it effect my
career and of course the ticket itself, I was unsure how this would all
effect me but I knew 1 thing I needed help. After numerous phone calls lots
of sweat from the worries one thing was certain I was not about to give up.
After numerous searches and plenty of calls one place stood out above the
rest. They didn’t guarentee me anything or falsify hopes to instill me with
but the feeling I got from each individual assured me that they would do
there best to protect my rights. It all started with a phone call to
Ticketbust a lady named Cristina listened to what had happened to me and
paired me up with a lady named A
and her assistant named Amanda to represent me and of course we all know
who Steve is. Each one played an essential role in assisting me. Just from
getting to speak with each one made my confidence rise to a phonominal
level. Alexis the lady representing me found a flaw in my ticket ( Which I
lost the original copy and the duplicate copy was crinkled I’m sure didn’t
make her job much easier )with in seconds, that alone astonished me I was
very impressed. She not only got my ticket dismissed and we are talking
about California and a hefty fine of 435 dollars she also kept my liscense
clean of points plus I’ve been notified by the State of California that my
money is being returned to me ” All Of IT “. Her words the day she said to
me let’s see if we can’t get this dismissed for you by Golly she meant it.
That’s why it’s important to never give up. They might not get every ticket
dismissed but best believe they are very sincere honest and will try harder
then anyone. If theres a flaw in a ticket they are going to find it I’d put my
faith in there hands before I’d ever call another ticket fighter. Thank you
ticketbust for keeping my job in a “win win” situation and most of all thank
you for getting my ticket dismissed ! Sincerely R. N. Miami”

Traffic Violations in California Frequently Asked Questions

To make the ordeal of getting traffic violations in California as stress-free as possible, we have compiled the following list of Frequently Asked Questions. For some folks who are not ’veterans’ at navigating the court system here in California, we hope this helps!

So I just got a traffic violation, what now?

There is no fine amount listed, just a court date. Look at the fine print (especially on the back of the traffic violation). If you do not find the information you are looking for regarding on the ticket, traffic violations always have some sort of contact information printed on them for the courts. Do not be afraid to call the court, they can actually be pretty helpful for general questions and it does not represent an admission of guilt just by making a phone call.

I cannot read what is on the Traffic Violation, what do I do?

Many of us have gotten frustrated after that cop pulls away and ‘crumpled’ up traffic violations only to find later that it is now almost impossible to read all the fine print and handwritten notes. Don’t worry! A “Notice to Appear” will be sent shortly to the address listed with your Driver’s License at DMV. You can also call the court listed on the ticket and they can clarify any information and expedite the mailing of the Notice to Appear.

What If I Believe the Cop was Wrong and I Want to Fight the Traffic Violation?

Many drivers have received traffic violations that they believe are false and ‘want their day in court’. It is quite simple. Simply call the court and say that you want to contest it. Or, on the day that you are supposed to show up at court, simply tell them that you would like to have a trial. However, did you know that, with our process, you may never need to end up in court at all?  We strive to get your traffic violation dismissed (using a process that includes a “Trial by Written Declaration”) rather than having our clients contest their traffic tickets in court. Simply give us a call at 800.850.8038.

We hope this information has helped. If you need more in-depth answers, feel free to contact us or visit our site and click on the full FAQs link on our site. Have something to add? We would appreciate your feedback. we sincerely wish you good luck with your traffic violations!

How to Fight a Red Light Ticket On Your Own

Have you recently found yourself with a red light photo ticket and have no idea what to do, other than pay the fine and endure the higher insurance premiums and points on your driving record?

Maybe you hold a Commercial Drivers License and paying the fine may just cost you your career!

Well, you have come to right place, we can help. For over six years, our California red light photo ticket experts have saved Californians thousands in ticket fines, hiked up insurance rates and negative driving record reporting. Our service is guaranteed, if we can’t make your ticket disappear or reduce the amount of the fine, you get your service fees back (subject to the terms and conditions of our guarantee). Don’t waste another moment, us visit our fight a ticket site, click Bust My Ticket in the navigation, enter your California ticket information, submit a few simple documents to us and you’ll be on your way to life as usual while our experts set about to contest that ticket for you. No more waiting in line at the courthouse, taking valuable time from work and family, and having to worry about insurance rates going through the roof. Learn how to fight that red light photo ticket from our experts now, using our site!   Still thinking of taking a stab at it yourself?  If so, Here are some FAQs about how to fight red light photo tickets yourself.

What is a Trial by Written Declaration (TR-205)?
Vehicle Code Section 40902 allows the defendant (you the cited driver) to contest citations in writing, without having to make a personal appearance in court. A Trial by Written Declaration is available in cases involving infractions of the Vehicle Code or of local ordinances of the Vehicle Code. Violations eligible for a Trial by Written Declaration must be infractions only. Misdemeanors and cases involving accidents are ineligible for a Trial by Written Declaration.

Where do I obtain a Trial by Written Declaration (TR-205)?
A Trial by Written Declaration (TR-205) fillable PDF form can be accessed at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms/fillable/tr205.pdf.

What does the court require of me to process a Trial by Written Declaration?
You will have to plead not guilty, requesting the Trial by Written Declaration and pay the bail amount for your citation.

What is the Bail amount?
As required by the court when using a Trial by Written Declaration, you must pay your bail (the fine of your ticket) up-front when processing your paperwork. When you mail your documents include a check payable to Superior Court for your bail amount. If you do not know the bail amount or if you have not received your courtesy notice from the court, call the court to get the bail amount for your citation.

Who do I make the bail check payable to?
Make your bail check payable to Superior Court and mail it to TicketBust.com with your signed engagement letter and Trial by Written Declaration.

How long does it take to get results from the court?
After submitting your completed Trial by Written Declaration to the court, you will be notified by the court at your preferred address within 60-90 days from the date of submitting your documents to the court.

What if my ticket is dismissed?
The court will remove the demerit point associate with the violation from your driving record and then issue you a full refund of your bail amount.

What if I’m found guilty or unsatisfied with the court’s decision?
The court will allow you to have a new trial, also known as a Trial De Novo. As required by the court, you must submit a written request for a new Trial; form TR-220, within 20 calendar days of the court’s decision.

What is a Trial De Novo (TR-220)?
Trial De Novo means “all things are new” (Judge, Venue and Evidence) and is in court, in person.

Where do I obtain a Trial De Novo (TR-220) form?
A Trial De Novo (TR-220) fillable PDF form can be accessed at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms/fillable/tr220.pdf

If the court accepts my request for a new trial, will I have to go to court in person?
Yes, a Trial De Novo is always in person, in court. (If indeed you have a new trial).

Do I need legal representation in court for a Trial De Novo?
Once you process the request with the court for a new trial on your own behalf, you will have to make the personal appearance in court yourself. Law firms are available for legal representation in court, but are not mandatory. We are strictly a professional filing agency and not a law firm, so we do not offer representation for you in court.

If I’m found guilty in court will I still qualify for traffic school?
As long as you have not been to traffic school in the last 18 months and the court honors traffic school for the type of violation you committed, you will get traffic school upon requesting it from the judge. According to Vehicle Code section 42005 and pertaining to People vs. Wozniak, you can still have the option to attend traffic school even after you have been found guilty of the alleged violation.

Have more questions?
Check out our site for more info on how to fight a ticket.

What Does Age Have to Do with Traffic Citations in California?

So many Californians think that they won’t get a traffic citation. “Ahhhh, I haven’t had a ticket in over ten years,” you hear many middle-aged folks say. As it turns out, this may not be just luck. According to the graphic below (provided by http://dmv.ca.gov/teenweb), your age may have a lot to do with the likelihood that you will receive a traffic violation, at least compared to those drivers under 20. The ironic part is that teen drivers are just as confident that they will not receive a traffic citation (or maybe they just do not understand the impact a citation will have on their pocketbook and driving record).

Citations by Age Group

The relationship between age, traffic citations and driving behavior has interested highway safety researchers and administrators for many years. It is generally acknowledged that the greatest risk of traffic crashes is among teenage drivers. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers across the United States. For both men and women, drivers aged 16 to 19 years of age have the highest average annual crash and traffic citation rates of any other age group.

Type of Violation for Age Group 16-19

Here is another set of traffic citation statistics based on type. Coming soon, we will be providing nationwide statistics for all ages (stay tuned):
Click on the following links to get more information on nationwide traffic citations and crash statistics for teenage drivers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Bottom line, regardless of whether you are 18 or 81, TicketBust.com can help get your traffic citation dismissed and, in most cases, you will never have to deal with the judge or a courtroom (subject to the terms and conditions of our guarantee).
We have serviced over 10,000 clients in the past 6 years and we stand ready to help you as well. We utilize a three step process where you never need an attorney.
To begin the process of getting that traffic citation busted, visit our site at TicketBust.com and click on the “Bust my Ticket” menu item or call one of our experts at 800.850.8038 today!

Articles about Traffic Tickets and How to Beat Traffic Tickets Recently Published

We invite you to read the following articles on traffic tickets and how to beat traffic tickets published on our subsidiary sites.

 Red Light Tickets  Some Good News for Holders of Red Light Tickets in California

Camera Tickets Red Light Camera Tickets in Los Angeles County, California (Amusing)

Red Light Tickets  Sites of Photo-Enforcement or Red Light Tickets in California

Red Light Camera Tickets   Photo-Enforcement or Red Light Camera Ticket Sites in California (cont’d)

California Speeding Tickets  Last Ditch Suggestions to Get Out of your Speeding Ticket in California

Speeding Tickets and Radar Guns  Are Radar Guns Safe for Use in Issuing Speeding Tickets?

Red Light Cameras   This Just In: Important News about Red Light Cameras in California

Red Light Camera Tickets  Photo Enforcement or Red Light Camera Tickets are Designed to Make Money, Not Protect the Public—Truth or Myth?

Red Light Tickets  Staggering Information on Red Light Tickets

Red Light Camera Tickets  Frequently Asked Questions, LA County: Red Light Cameras and Red Light Camera Tickets

Speeding Ticket Defense  Speeding Ticket Defense−A Personal Perspective

Fight a Speeding Ticket  Tips to Help Fight a Speeding Ticket or a Traffic Ticket

Traffic Ticket Statistics  Interesting Traffic Ticket Statistics

Traffic Ticket Quotas  Cops Fight Back Against Traffic Ticket Quotas

The Unsolicited Client Appreciation of Our Document Filing Service Keeps Coming

It is always so nice to receive notes like the following. As we get these compliments on our traffic ticket document filing service, we will continue to share them with you….

Dear Ticketbust,

I have always been somewhat skeptical when it comes to “money back guarantees”. My level of trust was still active and raw after receiving a speeding ticket, purchasing an $60 Fight your ticket book and then searching the web for information.
I had several replies from scammers in Zimbabwe to people proclaiming to be “experts in the industry of getting rid of tickets”. And the book basically said hire a lawyer or you are scr–ed !!!
Your site seemed honest and straight to the point.
I enlisted your services, someone; “a live person” called me soon after. I followed your instructions to the letter; called to check on “my ticket status” several times. (your staff always pleasant and answered any questions I had).
I have just received my fine amount, bail, back from the local court……which means; I was informed by the nice young lady in your office..(Amanda)…….I WON well you WON on my behalf.
You folks are the BEST……………Thank You Soooooooooooo much
Best to you all at TICKETBUST …and give Amanda, Christina and Steven a raise or at least diner and drinks !!!
Thank you sooo much,
Gary T., El Sobrante Ca.

TicketBust.com Announce New Campaign to Fight Scandalous Websites

Steve Miller, CEO of Ticket Busters of California announces Their Launch of ‘Fight Scandalous Sites’ Campaign

Recently Ticket Busters of California has become victim to a growing revenue scam on the Internet via a popular complaint site. “After investigating our options to rebut the complaint, our staff was astonished to find that there is a growing trend over the Internet of site like these; those allowing anyone to post a negative comment about any business or individual,” explained Steven Miller, CEO for Ticket Busters. With that information, Ticket Busters decided to launch a ‘Fight Scandalous Sites’ Campaign.

Miller goes on to say that, “our staff found limited ways to combat the complaints and other negative comments, other than to pay the site owner to contest the complaint or ‘monitor’ their site for removal of these comments”. While these sites do not charge any fee for the posting of these potentially scandalous comments, they charge the business or individual whom the complaint was lodged against. Also, these sites do not verify the legitimacy of the commandant or make any attempt to verify the legitimacy of the complaint. Ticket Busters found numerous stories from other business owners about postings that turned out to be from competititors or disgruntled ex-employees that were simply trying to bring negative attention to the business.

Ticket Busters of California decided that it was important to bring public awareness to this revenue generating and slanderous practice. In their campaign release, Ticket Busters pleads with the general consumer to, “please be careful not to believe everything you read on the Internet. Here is an example of a very popular complaint site and the lawsuits being brought against the company for allowing anyone to write anything:

http://rorandg.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/rip-off-report-founder-ed-magedson-internet-extortionist/

“ The campaign goes on to add, “did you know, as an example that a good amount of the activity on these sites are either shakedown artists or complaints initiated by competition? Help us in our efforts at Ticketbust.com to put an end to erroneous and misguided complaints by not clicking on the negative postings of these sites in the search engine results. The more clicks they get, the more popular these scandalous sites become. We want to annihilate these scandalous sites from the legitimate listings of Google and other search engines”.

If you would like to discuss your concerns with our CEO directly, please call 800.850.8038 or post a comment here. 

For additional information on the Ticket Busters Campaign to Fight Scandalous Sites, please visit http://www.ticketbust.com/fight-scandalous-sites/index.asp . For more information on fighting scandalous sites, please visit our “Scandalous Site Resources and Links” page at http://www.ticketbust.com/fight-scandalous-sites/inbound.asp . If you would like more information on how you can Join the Fight Against Scandalous Sites, including adding our “Help Fight Scandalous Sites” icon to your website, check out our Join the Fight page at http://www.ticketbust.com/fight-scandalous-sites/join-the-fight.asp or call 800.850.8038.

About Ticket Busters of California: Ticket Busters (ticketbust.com), located in Westlake Village, California, was founded in 2004 by Steven F. Miller. This service has assisted tens of thousands of Californians with filing the necessary paperwork to dismiss their traffic tickets. Ticket Busters (ticketbust.com) was originally created to alleviate the tedious and time-consuming process of attempting to contest a traffic ticket on your own. Mr. Miller wanted to create a fully automated and user-friendly online service for California drivers to submit their traffic ticket information and process the necessary documents. Unfortunately, there will always be a small percent of people that are unhappy and are free to post whatever they like, whether it is true or not, on unsavory sites like complaints.com, etc. Of this small percent of our client base, we have found that many of those did not read our Money Back Guarantee Terms and Conditions, which we encourage our website visitors to do throughout the site. We also always strongly encourage clients to give us their feedback directly so that we can work to resolve their issues. In five years, we have processed over 12,000 tickets for our clients and are a member in excellent standing with the Better Business Bureau.