Understanding types of traffic tickets

Whether you have a driver’s license from California or another state, if you drive in the state of California, it is important for you to understand some of the basic traffic laws. That also means you should understand the different types of citations that you may receive and what to expect with each.

As explained by the California Courts, parking tickets are not actually handled through any court system but just directly through the municipality or other entity that issues the tickets. When it comes to other things like speeding or driving on a suspended license, however, this is where a court may get involved. Some tickets that you might receive could be deemed misdemeanors but others could be deemed infractions. Misdemeanors are more serious than infractions.

In both cases, you may be required to appear in court or to pay a fine. The requirement to appear in court in no way means you are admitting that you are guilty. Instead, this provides you an opportunity to show you are not guilty. For some tickets, you may simply need to fix a problem like replace a tail light that had gone out. One of the more serious misdemeanors is a driving under the influence charge which could result in a host of penalties if you are ultimately convicted.

If you would like to learn more about the different types of violations or tickets associated with driving and parking, please feel free to visit the moving vehicle citation and charges page of our California driver’s defense website.