Traffic tickets start with the court; parking challenges start with the agency

Read the original ticket first. Find the agency, court, and deadline printed on it. A moving ticket or other traffic ticket from an officer generally goes to the Superior Court named there. Use that court to pay, fight the ticket, ask for traffic school, or seek an ability-to-pay option.

Do not wait past the citation date for a courtesy notice. California Courts says a case can take 30 days or more to enter the court system. If it is not online and no notice comes, call the court on the ticket. Missing a required appearance or payment can lead to an added civil assessment of up to $100 after notice.

A parking ticket starts with the group that issued it. That may be a city, campus, port, airport, transit agency, or other parking office. A free first review generally must be requested within 21 calendar days after the ticket. If a delinquent parking notice was mailed, the window is 14 calendar days after it was mailed.

If that review is denied, you can ask for an administrative hearing. The request is due within 21 calendar days after the result is mailed. You generally must deposit the parking penalty first. But the agency must offer a process if you cannot pay.

Keep the ticket, envelope, photos, request, and proof of delivery. Traffic and parking clocks do not run through the same office.