California Traffic Ticket Defense
Contest your California ticket by mail. No court appearance. 30-day filing window.
What happens when you contest your California ticket
- 1Upload your ticket
Take a photo or upload a PDF. Our AI extracts the case number, violation code, and court info in seconds.
- 2We check if you can contest
We confirm your violation qualifies for a mail-in contest in California — before you pay anything.
- 3Pick your defense
We write three arguments tailored to your specific charge and California law. Pick one, or ask for new options.
- 4Court action requiredPay your bail deposit
California requires you to post the full fine amount as bail before the court will accept your TR-205-2024 filing. This deposit is fully refundable if you win or the officer fails to respond — it is not paying the fine.
- 5Mail your written defense
We fill every field on the court form and produce a ready-to-mail packet, including your deposit receipt. Add certified or regular mail and we drop it at USPS for you.
- 6Get your result in 30–120 days
Courts respond within 30–120 days. If the officer misses their 25-day response deadline, the case is dismissed automatically and your full bail is refunded.
60 California traffic courts
23 California counties
California violation library
97 Vehicle Code sections indexed · 91 contestable by mail
Common questions — California
How long do I have to contest my California ticket?+
30 days from the citation date. Miss the window and the court rejects the filing — don't wait.
Do I need to fill out any forms?+
California uses a specific court form (TR-205-2024). We fill it out automatically from your ticket — you just review and approve.
Do I have to pay the fine upfront?+
Yes — but it is a bail deposit, not a fine payment. California requires you to post the full fine amount before the court will accept your TR-205-2024 filing. The full amount is refunded if you win or the officer fails to respond within 25 days.
What if I lose?+
Two things. First, we refund $59.99 — we only keep $20 for the AI work already done. Second, you can request a fresh in-person trial within 20 days, as if the written contest never happened. Your deposit, if any, is held until that trial concludes. We offer a Court Prep add-on to help you get ready.
Is DontPayTickets a law firm?+
No — we're a document preparation service. You're still the one filing; we prepare the paperwork at your direction. Think of it as TurboTax for traffic tickets.
Ready to fight your California ticket?
We check if you're eligible before you pay anything. $79.99 flat — refunded if you lose.
Other states
DontPayTickets is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Procedure summaries are for general information only. Court rules and forms change — always verify the current form and deadline with your local court before filing.