Stanislaus County traffic school: requesting it, the court fee and the 90-day window

Who this guide is for

This guide is for adults with an ordinary traffic infraction in the Superior Court of California, County of Stanislaus who want to request traffic school. For example, a driver whose Traffic Court Reminder Notice lists traffic school as an option might use it to plan payment, school sign-up and the completion check. It does not cover misdemeanors, mandatory appearances, juvenile matters or tickets filed in another county; use the county court directory for other courts.

Check the court’s eligibility list

Stanislaus Superior Court says you may choose traffic school for certain moving violations if you are not currently attending traffic school; have not attended traffic school for a citation issued within the last 18 months, counted from violation date to violation date; and were not driving a commercial vehicle while holding a commercial class A, B or C license. It also says a California driver’s license is required and that drivers with an out-of-state license are not eligible. Court eligibility list.

The court says commercial-license holders cited in a noncommercial vehicle on or after January 1, 2013 can attend if they meet the other requirements, and that after completion they must contact DMV’s Mandatory Action Unit at (916) 657-6525 to have the point masked. Its FAQ adds that traffic school is not an option for violations that are not moving violations, that violations carrying more than one point may not be eligible, and that juveniles must appear in court with a parent or legal guardian to request it. Commercial drivers · FAQ on eligibility.

If you have scheduled a court trial or trial by written declaration, the court says you cannot sign up for traffic school until after the trial and the court’s order; to request traffic school after a trial in which you were ordered to pay a fine, you must file a Law and Motion. Trial note.

Statewide, California Rules of Court, rule 4.104 lets a court clerk grant traffic school for many ordinary infractions, but not for others. Examples the rule places outside routine clerk authority include a violation within 18 months of a previous violation for which you attended or elected to attend traffic school, alcohol- or drug-related violations, speeding alleged at more than 25 mph over the limit, and a violation in a commercial vehicle. A judicial officer can still use discretion in an individual case; that is not a promise that traffic school will be allowed.

The same rule says pleading not guilty or going to trial does not, by itself, make an otherwise eligible driver ineligible. If you hold a class A, class B or commercial class C license and were driving a vehicle that needed only a noncommercial license, you may ask for traffic school, but the rule says the conviction is not reported as confidential. If anything about your case is unusual, ask Stanislaus Superior Court before you choose a school.

Request traffic school: the court’s routes

The court sends a Traffic Court Reminder Notice to the address on your citation. It lists your fine, whether your case is eligible for traffic school and whether a court appearance is mandatory. The court says your request for traffic school must be made before your court date. Reminder notice FAQ · Request timing.

1. Online. The court says only case numbers beginning with the letters “TR-” are eligible to sign up for traffic school online; look up your case in the court’s case portal. The court warns of sporadic technical issues with online payment and asks you to allow two days for an online payment to process. Online sign-up rule · Online payment notes.
2. By mail. Send a written request to sign up for traffic school with the full bail, the $52 fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope to 2260 Floyd Avenue, Modesto, CA 95355. The court asks you to write your case or citation number on your check and not to mail cash. Mail requests · Payment guidelines.
3. Drop box. Place a written request with the fees in the court’s drop box at 2260 Floyd Avenue, Modesto. Drop box requests.
4. In person. Visit the Traffic Court Clerk’s Office at 2260 Floyd Avenue, Modesto. The court lists office hours of Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., a phone line at (209) 530-3100 and the email address traffic.requests@stanct.org. Location and contact information.

Separate court charges from school tuition

As checked on November 2, 2026, the court says that to request traffic school you pay your full bail plus a $52.00 non-refundable fee to the court, a self-addressed stamped envelope if you request by mail, and a separate fee to the school, which varies by school. Its FAQ describes the $52.00 as a state fee for administering the traffic school program and says none of it goes to the schools. Use the total on your reminder notice; this guide does not calculate it. Court fee statement · Why two fees · Court-versus-school cost guide.

The court says a request for a fine reduction may be available and that the form may allow a reduction as well as traffic school approval, but the $52 fee still applies. Its traffic page links the statewide MyCitations ability-to-pay tool. Fine reduction FAQ · Financial hardship.

Deadlines and what happens if you miss them

Once the court receives your full bail and the $52.00 fee, it says your court date is extended by 90 days so you can complete traffic school. The new due date is 90 days from your hearing date if traffic school was ordered in court, or 90 days from the day you elected traffic school with the court; if you received a minute order, the due date is listed on it. The court says you will not receive further notices unless you fail to complete traffic school or fail to appear or pay. Ninety-day due date.

The court says completion takes 5 to 7 days to reach it and that finishing about 7 calendar days before your due date is sufficient. If you have not finished, contact the court before the due date; the court says you might be eligible for a one-time extension, but it does not state the length. Completion timing and extension.

If you have not completed traffic school and have not made arrangements before the due date, the court says you may be subject to a failure to pay and/or forfeiture of bail you have paid. Separately, it says a one-time 30-day extension of your court date may be available if requested on or before that date, and that failing to resolve a citation may bring a $100.00 civil assessment, an arrest warrant and a license suspension. Important notes · Extensions and missed dates.

Choose a school and confirm the court received completion

The court tells you to find a school using DMV’s list and to sign up with the school directly. To receive credit, it says the school needs your case number, citation number, driver’s license number and the court code 50450, and that your case or citation number must be used as the reference number the school reports. Information the school needs.

Only choose a school after the court has allowed traffic school for your citation. Use the California DMV’s traffic school list to check a school’s license and its type of instruction; DMV says you cannot register for a school through its website and must contact the school directly. Confirm the school’s total price, that it is currently enrolling and that it can report completion for your court. Our online course is not yet available. To complete traffic school now, choose a school from the California DMV’s traffic school list. How to verify a licensed school.

The court says the school reports your completion electronically to DMV; the court then pulls a list of completed cases from DMV, updates cases by due date, and the completion shows in the case portal. Your case is not complete until you have paid in full, including the $52.00 fee, and the completion shows in the court’s system. After you complete traffic school.

Frequently asked questions about Stanislaus traffic school

How much does Stanislaus County charge to allow traffic school?

The court says $52.00, non-refundable, in addition to your full bail. The school charges its own fee. Sign Up for Traffic School page

How long do I have to finish?

The court says 90 days, counted from your hearing date if ordered in court or from the day you elected traffic school with the court. Sign Up for Traffic School page

Can I extend the traffic school due date?

The court says to contact it before the due date because you might be eligible for a one-time extension. It does not state the length. Traffic FAQs

What do I give the school?

Your case number, citation number, driver’s license number and the court code 50450. Sign Up for Traffic School page

How do I know the court received my completion?

The court says completion takes 5 to 7 days to reach it and then shows in the case portal. Traffic FAQs · Sign Up for Traffic School page

What this guide cannot do

• This guide summarizes public pages; it is not legal advice and it does not change anything in your case. Stanislaus Superior Court decides eligibility, deadlines, fees and whether your completion is credited.
• Court pages change. If your court notice or the court’s current website says something different from this guide, follow the court.
• Where a court page does not state a fee, a deadline or a procedure, this guide does not state one either. Check your court notice or ask the clerk.
• This guide does not cover misdemeanors, mandatory appearances, juvenile matters, parking tickets or tickets from another county.
• California Licensing Education cannot look up your case, request traffic school for you, extend a date or send a completion record. Our online course is not yet available.