Can't Afford to Pay Options
Financial Hardship
If you have a financial hardship and can show that you are unable to pay the full amount of a fine for any infraction offense (including traffic offenses), you may ask the Court to consider your ability to pay in setting the total amount due online or in-person at any point before your fines and fees are fully paid.
The MyCitations online tool allows you to enter a plea and make an ability to pay request on eligible infractions. In addition to requesting a reduction, you can request a payment plan, more time to pay, or ask to complete community service in lieu of paying fines and fees.
Do not use the online tool if you want to:
- Contest the citation
- Attend traffic school
- Get a dismissal or reduction of charges with proof of correction
MyCitations - Request Traffic Fine Reduction
Community Service
Individuals who cannot afford to pay all or part of the bail on a citation may be eligible to perform community service work instead of paying the bail if they meet financial qualifications. The bail amount is converted to community service work at a conversion rate of $24 per hour.
The Traffic Clerk's Office will register an individual, if eligible, for community service work. If ineligible, the court will assist in setting up an affordable payment plan.
An individual can register for community service work without going to court. A $50 administrative fee is payable at the time of registration. When registering for community service work, the court will determine the deadline for completion of the hours. If the hours are not completed, or the completed and signed time sheet is not turned in to the court by the due date, the community service hours will be automatically converted back to bail or a monetary fine and the case will be sent to court collections. The amount owed will be increased by a $100 civil assessment and other monetary sanctions, and the violator's driving privileges may be affected.
The court will provide the individual with a list of agencies eligible to oversee community service and a time sheet to record the hours worked. It is the responsibility of the individual to schedule the community service work, present the time sheet to the agency to obtain an authorized signature, and return the completed time sheet to the court by the due date. Individuals who live in Marin County but do not perform their community service work at agencies on the court's approved list may request the court to contact these agencies and verify the completion of the community service work with an additional $50 administrative fee for this service.
Individuals who live outside of California are ineligible for community service work.