Got a Traffic Ticket in Long Beach, CA? Here’s What To Do Next
A plain-English guide for Long Beach (Los Angeles 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:
🔗 LA Superior Court - pay / contest a traffic ticket online
Your ticket names the court handling your case. If you’re not sure which court, use the official finder:
🔗 City of Long Beach - parking citations (the city, not the court)
Long Beach details, verified against LA Superior Court
- Citations issued in Long Beach go to the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, Traffic Division - and specifically to the courthouse printed on your citation. For Long Beach that is the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse, 275 Magnolia Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802 (LA Superior Court's South District, which also covers Signal Hill, San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City and Catalina). The court's own How do I pay my ticket? page is the only official place to pay, extend or set a court date for an LA County ticket.
- Paying online: that page lets you find your ticket by driver's licence number or by citation number. You can also pay by phone, by mail, or in person at the courthouse on your ticket - the court lists the payment phone number next to each courthouse entry, so take it from the entry for the Long Beach courthouse.
- What paying really means: the court's own wording is blunt - the bail is declared forfeited, the case may be closed, and the ticket information is forwarded to the DMV and recorded on your driving record. Paying is not a way to keep a moving violation off your record.
- Some tickets cannot be paid online or by phone at all. The court warns that certain violations require a mandatory court appearance, so check the violation code on your citation before assuming you can settle it from your sofa.
- At an arraignment you can do all four things in one visit: pay the bail, request traffic school if you are eligible, enter a plea of guilty, no contest or not guilty, or set the case for trial. If you would rather not go in, a trial by written declaration lets you argue the case in writing.
- Cannot afford it? LA runs its own Traffic Payment Plan on the same page (who qualifies and how to sign up are in its Q&A list), and the statewide MyCitations ability-to-pay portal is open to LA County drivers too. California generally allows traffic school once every 18 months on an eligible violation - see the state's traffic school rules.
- Long Beach parking tickets are the city's, not the court's. The City of Long Beach Parking Citations office handles payment and appeals: you must request a review within 21 days of the issue date and go through its Administrative Review (up to three documents can be attached). Contest online with the city's Contest Citation tool, by mail to Parking Citations, PO Box 22766, Long Beach, CA 90801, or in person at City Hall, 411 West Ocean Blvd, Lobby Level. Questions: FM-ParkingCitation@longbeach.gov or (562) 570-6822. The city also offers standard and indigent payment plans for parking fines, and parking enforcement can be reached on (562) 570-2866.
2How much will it cost?
Fines vary by violation and county. Check the court's current bail/fine schedule - the amount on your court 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, which can raise your insurance for up to 3 years.
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?
In California you can usually take traffic school once every 18 months to keep a point off a moving violation, if the violation is eligible. Your court notice says whether you qualify.
🔗 Check the official list of approved schools: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic/traffic-school
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 Long Beach and we’ll add it. (feedback link — to be wired up)