# What are your options at San Francisco traffic court?

URL: https://californiaticketguide.com/san-francisco-traffic-court/
Last reviewed: 2026-10-13

> San Francisco traffic tickets for moving violations go to the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, Traffic Division; parking tickets go to SFMTA. Use the due date on your notice, and confirm the current address and phone on the court's website.

## What does San Francisco traffic court handle?

The Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, has a Traffic Division for moving violations cited in the city, such as speeding and red light tickets. Parking tickets go to the [San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA)](https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/drive-park/citations), not the court. Check the agency named on a parking citation.

> Not sure what to do next? A three-question quiz is at https://californiaticketguide.com/traffic-ticket-lawyers/#quiz.

## How do you find current contact details?

Go to the court's website, [sf.courts.ca.gov](https://sf.courts.ca.gov/). Get the address, phone and hours from the court's official site, where they stay current. Use your notice for the due date and the court's site for how to reach the Traffic Division.

## What are your options on a San Francisco ticket?

California offers the same statewide options everywhere.

| Option | What it means | What you pay now |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pay | Bail forfeiture; the conviction is reported and the chance to contest ends | The full bail amount |
| Traffic school | If eligible, a court may hold the conviction confidential (VC 41501) | Full bail plus fees |
| Court trial | You contest in front of a judge | Ask the court |
| Trial by written declaration | You contest in writing under VC 40902 | Bail with the request |

Which options you actually have depends on your citation and the court's rules, so read the notice. Our guide to [traffic school or fighting the ticket](https://californiaticketguide.com/traffic-school-or-fight/) compares them, and [trial by written declaration](https://californiaticketguide.com/trial-by-written-declaration/) covers the paper route step by step.

## What will the ticket cost?

The total depends on the violation and the speed band. The statewide 2026 schedule from the Judicial Council is the starting point; a county may set its own totals, and we have not confirmed San Francisco's. Use the [ticket cost calculator](https://californiaticketguide.com/ticket-cost-calculator/) for the statewide figures, and confirm the amount with the court.

## What should you have ready before you contact the court?

- Your citation number.
- Your driver's license number.
- The due date on your notice.
- The code section on your citation, such as CVC 22350.
- The date and place you were cited.

With those in hand, a clerk can find your case faster. If you cannot find it online, call before the due date.

Other courts: [Santa Clara County](https://californiaticketguide.com/santa-clara-county-traffic-court/), [Sacramento](https://californiaticketguide.com/sacramento-traffic-court/), [Los Angeles](https://californiaticketguide.com/los-angeles-traffic-court/) and the [traffic courts index](https://californiaticketguide.com/traffic-courts/). Back to the [guide home page](https://californiaticketguide.com/).

## Who can handle a San Francisco ticket for you?

These are our picks for you.

### Our picks for you: traffic ticket lawyers in California

- **Ticket Crushers, A Law Corporation**, phone (866) 842-5384, flat fee from $149
  - San Francisco: 350 Rhode Island St #240, San Francisco, CA 94103
  - San Jose: 2033 Gateway Pl Ste 500, San Jose, CA 95110
  - Sacramento: 980 9th St, Sacramento, CA 95814
  - Los Angeles: 515 Flower St #1951, Los Angeles, CA 90071
- **Shouse Law Group, A.P.C.**, 4419 Van Nuys Blvd, Suite 307, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403, phone (818) 921-7575
- **Wallin & Klarich**, 18022 Cowan # 285, Irvine, CA 92614, phone (949) 776-3424

Picks are not rankings.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does San Francisco traffic court handle parking tickets?

No. Parking citations in San Francisco are administered by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), not the court. The Superior Court's traffic division handles moving violations. If your citation is for parking, follow the instructions printed on it. For a moving violation, such as speeding or a red light, the court's traffic division is the right place.

### Can I contest a San Francisco ticket in writing?

Trial by written declaration under VC 40902 is available for most Vehicle Code infractions in California. Check your notice and the court's official website for the current forms, how the court accepts requests, and the due date before you file. Keep a copy of everything you send, and file early rather than on the last day.

### What if I miss my date in San Francisco?

Missing a date can lead to a failure to appear under VC 40508 and a civil assessment of up to $100, and the court can report it to the DMV. This guide could not read San Francisco's own rules, so contact the court as soon as you notice the date has passed.

### Can a lawyer appear for me in San Francisco?

Lawyers appear in California traffic cases, and some firms say their flat fee includes every required court appearance. Ask the firm whether you must attend, and check your notice for any mandatory appearance. The court's official website lists its current local rules. A lawyer can tell you what the court allows.

## Sources

- [Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco](https://sf.courts.ca.gov/)
- [SFMTA, parking citations](https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/drive-park/citations)
- [California Vehicle Code 40902 (trial by written declaration)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=40902)
- [California Vehicle Code 40508 (failure to appear)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=40508)