How do I know if I’m eligible for traffic school?

You may qualify if you:

• Have a valid non-commercial driver’s license
• Received a ticket for an infraction (not a misdemeanor)
• Weren’t under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Haven’t attended traffic school in the last 18 months
• Plead guilty to the violation

You are not eligible for traffic school if:

• The violation is a non-moving violation (e.g., parking ticket, fix-it ticket).
• It’s a serious offense (e.g., DUI, reckless driving, hit-and-run).
• You were driving a commercial vehicle when cited.
• You’ve already attended traffic school within the past 18 months.
• Your violation requires a court appearance or involves multiple infractions.

Learn more about traffic school eligibility in California.

How to request traffic school in Santa Cruz County?

If you’re eligible, Santa Cruz County allows you to request traffic school for qualifying infractions after you pay your fine and a non-refundable administrative fee.

Online:

• Go to the Santa Cruz Superior Court Traffic Division.
• Click “Pay Traffic Ticket” to access the online payment portal.
• Look up your case using your citation or case number.
• If traffic school is available for your violation, you’ll see an option to request and pay for traffic school at checkout.
• You’ll be charged the full bail amount + a $52 administrative fee.

By Mail:

• Send a written request including:
• Full name, citation/case number, and request for traffic school.
• Payment: bail amount plus $52 (check or money order to “Fresno Superior Court”).
  Make the payment payable to payable to: Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz
• Mail to:

Santa Cruz Superior Court – Traffic Division
701 Ocean Street, Room 120
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

• Allow up to 3 weeks for processing.

By Phone:

• Call the Traffic Division at (831) 420-2200 (Mon–Fri, 8 am–1 pm).
• You can request traffic school and pay the associated fees over the phone.

In Person:

• Visit the Santa Cruz Traffic Division at the address above.
• Bring your citation and photo ID.
• Request traffic school, and pay all required fees

How long do I have to take traffic school after a ticket?

In Santa Cruz County, you have 90 days to complete the course. This deadline is set by the court starting from the date you’re granted the traffic‑school option.

Does traffic school remove points?

In California, traffic school allows you to prevent a point from being added to your record for an eligible traffic violation. When you complete traffic school, the conviction is reported as a confidential conviction on your driving record, meaning the point is masked and not visible to insurance companies or employers. This prevents the point from affecting your insurance rates.

How often can you do traffic school in California?

You are eligible to attend traffic school once every 18 months to mask a qualifying traffic violation from your public driving record. This 18-month period is calculated from the date of the first violation to the date of the second violation, not from the date you completed traffic school.