Self Help
In Depth Research
Specialized Texts
Forms
Statutes-Rules of Court
Web Sites
Community Resources
Traffic School
SELF HELP
Beat Your Ticket: Go To Court and Win KF 2231 .B76 Self-Help
Beat Your Ticket lays out the best strategies for beating tickets in court. The book explains in plain English how to use the law to fight an unwarranted ticket, find out what the police officer plans to say at your trial, attack radar and other detection methods.
Electronic Access: On the law library computers, using Nolo E-books.
Fight Your Ticket & Win in California KFC 447 .Z9 B76 Self-Help
Fight Your Ticket & Win in California shows you how to handle your case in a California traffic court, get the right kind of hearing and win. This title discusses how to prepare and present your evidence, argue before a judge, cross-examine a police officer's testimony, get your case dismissed, appeal a decision, and determine the consequences of your violation.
Electronic Access: On the law library computers, using Nolo E-books.
IN DEPTH RESEARCH
Blashfield Automobile Law and Practice KF 1290 .A8B7
This comprehensive guide to automobile laws and practices includes step-by-step information on trial preparation and investigation, liability concepts, insurance issues, trial evidence, trial procedure, licensing and overall state regulation, and monetary guides for every type of injury.
California Forms of Pleading and Practice KFC 1010 .A65 C3
Vol. 8, Chapter 80 – Chapter 92,
Automobiles
Look in the index using the term "traffic" or "traffic offenses" to find information on specific types of traffic law issues.
Electronic Access: On the law library computers, using the
LexisNexis CD.
SPECIALIZED TEXTS
Defense of Speeding, Reckless Driving & Vehicular Homicide Cases
KF 8925 .T7 D4
This title discusses the law, technical knowledge, and litigation techniques required to successfully defend a speeding, reckless driving, or vehicular homicide case.
Motor Vehicle Accident Reconstruction and Cause AnalysisKF 1290 .A8 L56
This one-volume resource gives you the fundamentals you need to introduce the laws of nature successfully in a court of law. It shows you how scientific principles apply to specific motor vehicle components, road conditions, and accident circumstances.
Pattern Discovery, Motor VehiclesKF 8900 .A3 D317
This book contains interrogatories covering most motor vehicle liability situations; including motor vehicle accidents; motor vehicle products liability; personal injuries; and consequential damages. It also shows how to draft, serve, and craft responses to requests for production or admissions.
Traffic Court Proceedings: California Judges BenchguideKFC 477 .Z9 T73
This benchguide covers procedures for handling traffic court proceedings involving infractions and misdemeanors under the Vehicle Code. It may be used by traffic commissioners and by judges who are assigned to handle a traffic calendar.
Electronic Access: Online at
http://www2.courtinfo.ca.gov/protem/pubs/bg82.pdf
FORMS
Incarcerated
Under Vehicle Code § 41500, incarcerated persons may file an ex-parte application to dismiss non-felony citations, warrants, and traffic fines.
Ex-Parte Motion:
http://www.saclaw.org/Uploads/files/forms/VC41500.doc Judicial Council Forms
http://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm Fillable Judicial Council Forms are available for free from the California Courts website. From the drop down menu, select "Traffic Infractions."
STATUTES-RULES OF COURT
California Vehicle Code KFC 30.5 .D4 V4
The law library has copies of both the West and Deering annotated codes.
Electronic Access: The law itself, with no annotations, is online at
www.leginfo.ca.gov.
Uniform Penalty and Bail Schedule – California Rules of Court, Rule 4.102 KFC 1195 .Z9 C34 Reference
Traffic fines consist of a base fine plus a penalty assessment and additional fees. Suggested base fines are listed in the Uniform Penalty and Bail Schedule. This serves as a guideline for the imposition of a fine as all or a portion of the penalty for a first conviction of a listed offense.
Electronic Access: http://www.courts.ca.gov/2011_jcbail.pdf
WEB SITES
California Courts – Self Help Center
http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-traffic.htm This website from the Judicial Council of California provides general information about traffic related issues including common questions about traffic tickets, payment of traffic fines, and online forms.
California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
www.dmv.ca.gov The official site of the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Nolo Press Self–Help Law Center
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/traffic-tickets/ Provides information on how to fight a speeding ticket or other violation in traffic court, as well as information about fines, suspended driver licenses, and traffic school.
Sacramento Superior Court
http://www.saccourt.ca.gov/traffic/traffic.aspx This website provides local traffic information for Sacramento County, including contesting a citation, preparing for court, paying fines, and red light camera citations.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Carol Miller Justice Center – Sacramento Traffic Court
301 Bicentennial Circle (916) 875-7800
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Carol Miller Justice Center houses the Traffic division of the Sacramento Superior Court. Users can file traffic documents, and pay fines and fees at this court.
Drivers' License Reinstatement Clinic (VLSP)
(916) 551-2155
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. http://www.vlsp.org/drivers.asp The
Voluntary Legal Services Program of Northern California provides services to clients who need help with reinstatement of their California driver's licenses. VLSP can advise a client as to how to resolve issues that led to the suspension of the client's driver's license, such as Failures to Pay or Appear.
TRAFFIC SCHOOL
California Traffic Safety Institute
www.ctsi-courtnetwork.org If you do not request traffic school at the beginning of your case, you may lose the chance to go. Most courts will not allow you to fight the ticket and then, after losing, decide to go to traffic school.
06/22/11 rmm
updated 06/22/11 rmm