Got a Traffic Ticket in Bakersfield, CA? Here’s What To Do Next
A plain-English guide for Bakersfield (Kern County) drivers: where to pay, whether to fight it, whether traffic school can save your record, and when a lawyer is worth it.
The 30-second answer
You usually have four options: pay the fine, contest it yourself, take traffic school, or hire a lawyer. The right choice depends on whether it’s a moving violation and whether you have a good-driving record to protect.
👉 Use the free decision tool below — it tells you which option fits your ticket.
1Where do I pay the ticket?
Never pay through a random site. Use the court’s official portal:
🔗 Kern County Superior Court - make a payment online
Your ticket names the court handling your case. If you’re not sure which court, use the official finder:
🔗 Kern County Superior Court - Traffic Court (process, school, red light, failure to appear)
Bakersfield / Kern County details, verified against Kern County Superior Court
- Kern County traffic goes to the Superior Court of California, County of Kern - start from the court's own Traffic Court page. There is no separate city traffic court; a Bakersfield police or CHP ticket lands here.
- Watch for the Courtesy Notice. Within a few weeks of the citation the court mails a Courtesy Notice showing your fine amount, or a mandatory-appearance date and time. It should arrive at least 10 days before the appearance date - if it never shows up, appear on or before the date printed on your citation anyway.
- Paying is a guilty plea. Pay online through the court's payment page or follow the options on the notice. If your citation requires a mandatory court appearance, a fine payment alone will not close the case.
- Traffic Violator School is the record fix, once every 18 months on an eligible violation. See the court's Traffic School page; since AB 2499 the ticket is still recorded, but your first conviction in 18 months is kept confidential and no point is assessed.
- If money is the problem, Kern points you to the statewide MyCitations tool and its Can’t Afford to Pay page - both can reduce or spread the fine rather than force a default.
- Do not simply ignore it. The court has a dedicated Failure to Appear or Pay page: a missed date adds a civil assessment and can suspend your licence, and it escalates fast.
- Parking is not the Traffic Division's. Kern says to contact the law-enforcement agency printed on the parking ticket, and traffic-court lawyers are separate: DUI goes to the Criminal Department.
2How much will it cost?
Fines vary by violation and county. Kern publishes its own fee and fine payment options - the amount on your Courtesy Notice is the real number.
Don’t just look at the fine. For a moving violation, the real cost is the fine plus the insurance increase, which can last up to three years. A moving violation adds a point to your DMV record and can raise your insurance for up to three years, so the school election is usually worth more than the fine.
3Should I fight it, or just pay?
| Option | Best when | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Just pay | It’s a non-moving / fix-it ticket, or you don’t mind the point | Just the fine |
| Contest it yourself | The officer’s account is wrong, or the sign/light was unclear | Free (your time) |
| Traffic school | You’re eligible and want to keep the point off your record | Fine + small course fee |
| Hire a lawyer | A moving violation + a record you can’t afford to damage | $250-$500 typical for a simple moving violation |
Free decision tool: what should you do?
Answer three questions. There is nothing to type — no name, no citation number. We only record which options people choose (anonymously, so we know which cities and questions need work); the recommendation itself is calculated in your browser.
4Can traffic school save my record?
Kern County runs California's Traffic Violator School (TVS). If your violation is eligible, completing an approved school keeps a point off your DMV record - and since AB 2499 the court can no longer dismiss the ticket, so only your first conviction in an 18-month period is kept confidential. A CDL holder cited in a non-commercial vehicle may still attend, but the conviction is not masked.
🔗 Check the official list of approved schools: https://www.kern.courts.ca.gov/divisions/traffic-court/traffic-school
How traffic school works in every state we cover →
5Do I need a lawyer?
For a simple moving violation a lawyer typically costs $250-$500 typical for a simple moving violation. It’s usually worth it when the insurance increase, or your job (CDL, company car), outweighs that fee.
6Do I have to show up in court?
It depends on the ticket. Many moving violations can be handled online or by mail; others require a court date. Check the court named on your ticket before the deadline — missing a deadline can add penalties or suspend your license.
Other California cities we cover
Common questions
Will paying the ticket raise my insurance?
For a moving violation, usually yes — often for up to three years. Non-moving and parking tickets usually don’t.
What if I just ignore it?
Don’t. Unpaid tickets can lead to extra fines, a suspended license, or a warrant. Every option above is better than ignoring it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is general information to help you understand your options. For advice about your specific case, talk to a licensed attorney in California.
Tell us what’s missing for Bakersfield and we’ll add it — email privacy@ticketsimplified.com.
⚠️ Items still to verify for Bakersfield: the fine amount or mandatory-appearance date on your Courtesy Notice (it should arrive at least 10 days before the appearance date); whether your violation is eligible for Traffic Violator School; whether a payment plan or an Ability-to-Pay reduction applies to you. Last checked 2026-10-12.