Due to several consecutive years of state budget reductions, the Riverside Superior Court is reducing services to the public. Effective immediately, the court will offer limited in-person, and no live operator telephone service for litigants with traffic cases.
In place of in-person service, the court is automating many routine tasks through available computers, kiosks and telephones.
To pay a fine or see a record, the public may visit the court’s website (www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/_ and click on the “Online Services” tab.
For those who have more complex traffic matters and need to speak with a court employee, Traffic and Collections Clerk appointments may be scheduled online by visiting the court’s website and choosing “Traffic” under “Info by Division.” The next page has an option to schedule an appointment with a clerk: www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/traffic/scheduleappt.shtml.
Appointments may also be scheduled using the computers in courthouse lobbies. Appointments are available from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at Banning Court, Hemet Court, Indio Larson Justice Center, Moreno Valley Court and Murrieta Southwest Justice Center.
Appointments are only available from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays at Blythe Court.
Night court appointments are available at the Indio Larson Justice Center on the first Tuesday of the month until 5:30 p.m. and the Moreno Valley Court on the third Wednesday of the month until 6:30 p.m.
A limited number of pre-populated appointment types are available, such as a request for a third extension or a request to change a citation to owner’s responsibility, and evaluation for hardship payments or community service. When requesting an appointment, provide a phone number and an email to receive a confirmation and other messages.
Since a clerk appointment does not constitute a court appearance, an appointment may be scheduled in any of the appointment locations listed above, regardless of the citation’s jurisdiction. Setting an appointment does not extend the date to appear or alter or extend any statutory or court-ordered deadlines.
An appointment may be scheduled up to two weeks in advance and each appointment will be scheduled for 15 minutes.
Same-day court appearances are no longer offered in any traffic court location. Customers may reserve a court date 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the court’s public website. Once calendared, the customer will be able to bypass the traffic counter and report directly to the courtroom without standing in line in the clerk’s office.
To appear in front of a judicial officer for a traffic citation, a court date must be reserved. An appearance in court is optional unless “Mandatory Appearance” is reflected on the courtesy notice. If “Mandatory Appearance” is indicated in the amount due section on the courtesy notice, the customer is required to appear.
Night court appearances within the citation’s jurisdiction are at 5 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at Indio Larson Justice Center and at 5:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month at the Moreno Valley Court.
To schedule a court appearance, customers may use the computers in the courthouse lobby, or go online from any location and visit the court’s website. Choose “Traffic” under “Info by Division.” The next page has an option to schedule a “request court appearance” (www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/traffic/reqcourtappearance.shtml).
Cases must be eligible for a court appearance, and scheduling a court appearance does not extend a date to appear or alter or extend any statutory or court-ordered deadline.
The citing law enforcement officer will not be present at this hearing.
To contest a citation — plead not guilty and proceed with a court trial to testify and present evidence and/or witnesses — the person must post the full bail amount (fine) of the citation and reserve a court date online at https://www.epay-it.com/.
Or, to post bail and schedule a court trial by mail, send payments to the Payment Processing Center, 505 S. Buena Vista, Room 201, Corona, CA 92882.
To post bail and schedule a court trial online, customers may use the computers in the courthouse lobby, too.
The court will set a trial date and with notification sent within seven to 10 days. The court will subpoena the officer(s) for trial. Eventually, cities will be able to select a court trial date at the time of scheduling.
For more information regarding contesting a traffic ticket, visit http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/traffic/contesting.shtml.
Payment kiosks are in the test stage and will be launched in traffic court locations. Details will be announced soon.
