San Mateo County traffic school: request routes, deadline and completion

Who this guide is for

This guide is for adults with a traffic infraction citation filed in San Mateo Superior Court. The court says juvenile traffic cases are handled by the County’s Probation Department, not the Superior Court. If you must go to traffic court, San Mateo says you must reserve a court date in advance; same-day walk-ins are not available. San Mateo Traffic Division.

Request traffic school from the court

San Mateo’s FAQ lists three ways to request traffic school and pay the traffic-school fees. Paying a school first does not give you court permission. Court FAQ, question 9.

1. Online. On the Traffic Portal, search for your case and select the “Traffic School Requested” option. The court accepts Visa or MasterCard and says it will not mail any other forms or information for this route. Online route.
2. By mail. Fill out the bottom portion of your bail notice and send it with a check or money order payable to Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, to the Traffic Clerk’s Office, 1050 Mission Road, South San Francisco, CA 94080. Write “TRAFFIC SCHOOL” and the case number on the payment. The court mails the information you need to the address on your bail notice. Mail route.
3. In person. At the Traffic Clerk’s Office at 1050 Mission Road, South San Francisco. How to take care of your citation.

If your citation includes a correctable violation, San Mateo says the court must receive proof of correction with your traffic-school request. For anything mailed, the court says to allow approximately 10 days for delivery and processing. Correctable violations.

Separate court charges from school tuition

San Mateo says you must pay the total bail on your citation plus a nonrefundable $82.00 administrative fee, and that the school charges a separate registration fee when you enroll. If more than one violation on your citation is eligible for traffic school, the court says to pay the highest bail amount plus the administrative fee. The court will not let you enroll until the required payments are made. Payment information · Court-versus-school cost guide.

Keep the 60-day date and extension rule

San Mateo says you will have 60 days to complete traffic school. Use the due date the court gives you. Completion period.

The clerk may give one 45-day extension to complete traffic school if you ask before the original traffic-school due date; no further extensions are given after that period. The FAQ lists telephone and mail to the Traffic Clerk’s Office as ways to ask. This is separate from the one 30-day extension the clerk may give to appear or pay bail on the citation itself. Extensions, questions 7 and 10.

The court mails a Notice of Bail, usually within 30 days of the citation. If you do not resolve a citation by its due date, San Mateo says it may charge a $100 civil assessment and notify DMV. You must act by the date on your Notice to Appear even if the Notice of Bail never arrives. Notice of Bail.

Choose a licensed school and confirm completion

After you request traffic school, check a provider’s license and type of instruction on DMV’s traffic school list. DMV says you register with the school, not through DMV. San Mateo notes that schools are privately run and that you must ask the school about its costs, hours or locations. Court guidance · How to verify a school.

San Mateo says that since September 1, 2012, schools must submit completion certificates electronically to the court, and hard-copy certificates are no longer accepted. The Traffic Portal includes a Traffic School Completion Info link. If you do not complete by the due date, the court says you forfeit the bail and administrative fee, no further proceedings are held and the violation will show on your DMV record. Completion, question 11 · After completing the course.

Reduced-fine program and hardship requests

San Mateo runs a program for citations that have not had a court hearing: you ask the judge to lower the fine without going to court, and the court says it will also allow you to sign up for traffic school if you qualify. The request requires a plea of “guilty” or “no-contest”; do not send payment with the form, and allow the court at least 3 weeks to respond. Read the plea consequences before using it. Reduced-fine program.

The separate financial-hardship fine-reduction route is labeled on the court’s Traffic page as “No Traffic School or Proof of Correction.” If you want traffic school, ask the court which route fits your case before filing. Traffic Division page.

Check eligibility with the court

San Mateo’s list requires a valid California driver’s license and an eligible Vehicle Code infraction carrying no more than one point. It says seat belt, mechanical or equipment violations and failure to have insurance are among the violations not eligible. Speed may not be more than 25 mph over the limit, and alcohol- or drug-related, tank-vehicle and unresolved failure-to-appear citations are excluded. Eligibility, question 9.

The court measures the 18-month window from the past violation date to the new violation date, not from when you completed traffic school. A Class A, B or commercial Class C license holder who was not driving a commercial vehicle may attend if eligible; San Mateo says DMV will not assess the point but will not keep the conviction confidential, and its pages tell commercial-license holders to contact DMV after completion. Statewide rule 4.104 governs the clerk’s authority and judicial discretion. Commercial-license notice.

Contact San Mateo Traffic Court

The Traffic Division Northern Branch is at 1050 Mission Road, South San Francisco, CA 94080. Phone (650) 363-4300 or (650) 261-5100 option 5, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. The FAQ also lists a drop box at the Criminal Clerk’s Office, Hall of Justice, 400 County Center, Redwood City, for payments. Check current hours before visiting. Enter case details only through the court’s official services; this guide collects none. Contact information · Payment locations.

Frequently asked questions about San Mateo County traffic school

Can I request San Mateo County traffic school online?

Yes. San Mateo says to search for your case on the Traffic Portal and select “Traffic School Requested,” paying by Visa or MasterCard. The court will not mail other forms for this route. Online route.

How long do I have to complete traffic school?

San Mateo says 60 days. The clerk may give one 45-day extension if you ask before the original traffic-school due date. Court FAQ.

Can I mail a paper completion certificate to the court?

No. San Mateo says schools must submit certificates electronically and hard-copy certificates are no longer accepted. Court FAQ, question 11.

I have two eligible violations on one citation. What do I pay?

San Mateo says to pay the highest bail amount plus the administrative fee. Payment information.

Can I ask for a reduced fine and still go to traffic school?

Under the court’s program for citations without a hearing, San Mateo says it will also allow you to sign up for traffic school if you qualify. The request requires a guilty or no-contest plea. Reduced-fine program.

What this guide cannot do

This guide summarizes the court pages listed below as they read on November 1, 2026. Court procedures, fees and hours change, and your courtesy notice, case record or a court order controls your case. It cannot decide eligibility, look up your citation, extend a deadline, submit anything to the court or predict how your driving record or insurance will be affected. If this guide and the court disagree, follow the court.

California Courts explains statewide how traffic school works; read its traffic-school page for general background, and use San Mateo’s instructions for your case.