We found this customer comment on the Better Business Bureau site:
I received a ticket in Agoura Hills and used TicketBust.com in hopes of not having the ticket on my driving record or wasting time and money going to a traffic school. I took a calculated risk while I was driving, knowing that what I was about to do was against the law, and that I might get a ticket, which I did. I did not hear back from the court for quite some time after TicketBust handled my case, but one year after receiving the ticket I received a letter from the court stating that my case was dismissed and I am to get a refund from the court for the bail paid! No need to attend traffic school, no raised insurance premiums, and I still have traffic school available for my next ticket, if necessary. I highly recommend the use of TicketBust.com. When I signed up with TicketBust I thought that at least they guarantee a win or else I’d get my money back, figuring that I’d probably be getting my money back, but they did fight for me and I won!!

Wayne S.
San Luis Obispo, CA

To better serve our valued clients, we have published a number of general use documents on our main site as well as our satellite sites. All documents are in PDF version which should be able to be opened and printed on any computer. If you have problems opening and/or printing any of the documents, please call 800 850-8038 or contact Ticketbust.com for assistance.
The documents that are included are Ticketbust.com Engagement Letter, Trial by Written Declaration, Request for New Trial, Credit Card Authorization, Delivery Authorization and Bail Waiver Request.

How to Fight a Speeding Ticket in California

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit
You’re driving down the freeway at seventy miles per hour and all of a sudden, you see red lights flashing behind you. You get that feeling in your stomach that is all too familiar to some of us drivers and you know what is ahead. “Pull over immediately” says the officer on the loudspeaker and you comply by pulling over onto the shoulder of the freeway and wait patiently while the officer runs your plates through the computer.
Some of us have never been pulled over before while others have experienced this situation one too many times. Here are some tips that may help you get out of the ticket even before the officer writes you up and after if you do get a citation:

Steps

1. Step 1: Be calm and polite to the officer. You want your attitude to assist you in achieving your desired outcome not hinder it. Whatever you do, do not argue with the officer or create any sort of animosity. Arguing with the officer does not increase your likelihood of leniency so treat him as if you would want to be treated.
2. Step 2: Turn your car off and make the interior of the car completely visible so that the officer can see into your car by turning the lights on. This is so that you can take away any unnecessary tension that the officer may have in pulling a car over. He does not know that your car is not loaded with drugs or weapons and they are trained to expect the worse. By having your hands in plain sight and the interior of the car visible, you are showing complete submission to him and will be better prepared to explain your situation.
3. Step 3: Be respectful to the officer and comply with his requests. Do not start asking him questions or begin pleading with him until after he has gotten through his initial questions. Once he has gotten your information ask him politely if you can speak with him regarding your speeding violation. Plead your case in a very polite and non-combative manner. Most officers will be lenient with you if you simply admit to speeding and tell them that his will cripple you financially. Let them know that you are very sorry for speeding and that you realized you were speeding but felt the flow of traffic was also going at the same speed but you were at fault for assuming that.
4. Step 4: If the officer does not let you go and he decides to write you up a ticket, do not change your attitude into a combative one because you want to be as inconspicuous as possible to the officer.
5. Step 5: Once you leave the scene after receiving the speeding ticket, remember all the details of the experience as closely as possible and call Ticket Busters, (http://www.ticketbust.com). They will help you beat a California speeding ticket!
6. Step 6: Look up your exact vehicle code in a search engine like Google or Yahoo. Use the particular VC number on the ticket in the look-up field and find a reliable website for details (as an example, use the California Department of Motor Vehicles site at http://www.dmv.ca.gov).
7. Step 7: Once you have the exact verbiage of the vehicle code, look for any loopholes. Consider the following story as an example of how important these vehicle code loopholes are.
8. An interesting scenario out of Northern California shows how to beat a speeding ticket. A gentleman was traveling at about 85 miles per hour on the highway. He knew that there were two spots up ahead where CHP officers ‘hide’ and wait for the unsuspecting speeders to race by. This man reduced his speed prior to passing the ‘hiding’ officers but, to his dismay, the CHP squad car pulled out and turned its lights on even though he had slowed to 65 miles per hour. When the officer approached his car, the gentleman asked why he was being pulled over. The officer responded that it was because the gentleman was traveling close to 85 miles per hour. The gentleman rebutted stating that he was only going 65 miles per hour. The officer then informed the driver that an aircraft had clocked him at 85 miles per hour a few miles back. “Wow,” the driver thought to himself, “how am I going to beat this speeding ticket?”.
9. Well little did he know that he was actually in a pretty good position to beat this speeding ticket. The way that the aircraft ‘clocked’ him was by clocking the time it took the gentleman’s car to travel between two fixed points on the ground. Although math doesn’t lie, there are a few points that should be examined in this scenario. First and most important, because two officers were involved in giving this citation, both must show up for court. If either officer does not show up, the gentleman’s case is dismissed. If the driver gets the case postponed, there is an even more likely chance that both officers will not show up. Secondly, being caught by an officer in an aircraft is a bit of a slippery slope. If one reads the law carefully he may be able to beat his speeding ticket. Consider this:
10. “40800. (a) A traffic officer on duty for the exclusive or main purpose of enforcing the provisions of Division 10 (commencing with Section 20000) or 11 (commencing with Section 21000) shall wear a full distinctive uniform, and if the officer while on duty uses a motor vehicle, it must be painted a distinctive color specified by the commissioner.”
11. What are the chances the officer in the aircraft was in full uniform? How about the aircraft itself, would it be considered a motor vehicle? Was it painted a distinctive color as specified by the commissioner? These are all valid points that can lead some to beat a speeding ticket before some judges. Ticket Busters (www.ticketbust.com) can help with all the necessary paperwork, etc.
12. To recap, read the law carefully for any loopholes you can use to your advantage and use the services of a company like Ticket Busters of California (www.ticketbust.com) to help beat your speeding ticket.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Fight a Speeding Ticket in California. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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

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

“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

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!

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.

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!

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