How to Contest a San Francisco Traffic Ticket Without a Lawyer

iEditorial Note: These blog posts represent the opinion of DoNotPay’s Writers, but each person’s situation and circumstances vary greatly. As a result, you should make sure to do your own independent research. Because everyone is unique, our self-help tools are never guaranteed to help with any specific situation. DoNotPay is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law. DoNotPay provides a platform for legal information and self-help.

Contest a San Francisco Traffic Ticket Online in Two Minutes

Did you receive a traffic ticket in San Francisco? Are you struggling with an unfair moving violation? While San Francisco police officers may be issuing traffic citations less frequently, drivers in the county are still receiving an average of 139 tickets each day.

Do you need to fight a ? Not gonna lie but the process can get rocky and exhausting. No need to worry or feel intimidated about making a stand though. No need to get a lawyer when fighting a San Francisco traffic ticket when you can completely rely on DoNotPay.

We are well-versed in traffic laws across the country. Rest assured that we can assist you in other cities as well. Some of the most common tickets we’ve handled include:

Ready to plead not guilty to a traffic ticket? Keep reading and we’ll let you know everything you need to win.

The Most Common Types of Traffic Tickets in San Francisco, CA

Drivers may find themselves dealing with various depending on the error they committed on the road. However, there are five types of moving violations that are cited more commonly than any other throughout California.

Speeding Tickets

The speed limit is perhaps the most commonly referenced traffic law. It may also be the most often violated law on the books. Drivers in San Francisco may find themselves pushing the speed limit, especially if they manage to break out of the heavy traffic often present around rush hour.

Cell Phone Violations

California law notes that you cannot use a cell phone or other communication device by holding it in your hand. While you can use voice commands or a speakerphone, you cannot take your hands off the wheel to use a phone while driving.

Drivers under 18 cannot use cell phones at all. If an officer catches a driver engaged in those dangerous behaviors, the officer may issue a cell phone violation citation.

Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign

Failing to make a complete stop at a stop sign can pose a serious problem, since other drivers may not realize that the dangerous driver intends to proceed through the intersection. Officers in San Francisco may also issue traffic tickets for drivers who fail to come to a complete stop at a stop sign, also known as a "rolling stop."

Tailgating and Aggressive Driving

Tailgating is one of the top dangerous behaviors in San Francisco, in part due to the heavy traffic. Aggressive driving may also include:

  • Excessively high speeds
  • Swerving in and out of traffic
  • Trying to force another vehicle off the road

An aggressive driving ticket may carry heavy fines and penalties.

Red Light Tickets

Red lights help govern the safe flow of traffic through intersections. Ignoring a red light can have serious consequences. A driver who runs a red light can expect a substantial traffic ticket.

Contesting a Traffic Ticket in San Francisco, CA

To contest a traffic ticket in San Francisco, you will need to either:

  1. Plan to appear in court. During the arraignment, you will be advised of your rights and the charges you face, then enter a plea. During the trial, on the other hand, you will testify about the case, and the citing officer will be subpoenaed to appear.
  2. Manage a trial by written declaration. You can protest your case by mail by sending in the appropriate forms.

Contesting a traffic ticket in San Francisco by yourself can prove very difficult. You may have a long wait in court, including taking the day off work to deal with the process. If you fill out a request for a trial by written declaration but fail to provide relevant information or properly fill out the forms, you may end up losing your appeal, which could result in points on your license and the need to pay the associated fees.

How to Pay a San Francisco Traffic Ticket

If you’ve decided to proceed in paying the fine instead of contesting your , here are a few options on how you can do so:

By MailIf you have the pre-printed envelope, make your check or money order payable to “SFMTA” and include the citation number before mailing.

If not, simply mail your payment to:

SFMTA Customer Service Center

11 South Van Ness Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94103

OnlineYou can pay online for same day payment posting.
In PersonYou may visit the Municipal Court on the 3rd floor of the Criminal Justice Facility. They are open seven days a week except on holidays, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
By PhoneCall (415) 701-3099 or (800) 531-7357.

Remember that you can still fight the traffic ticket without hiring a lawyer. You can rely on DoNotPay to make a solid appeal on your behalf!

DoNotPay Can Help You Contest Your San Francisco Traffic Ticket in Just Two Minutes

Newsweek claimed that DoNotPay has already helped overturn more than $4 million worth of traffic tickets. With DoNotPay, contesting a traffic ticket through a trial by written declaration is simple. You can complete the process in less than 120 seconds.

Here's how to get started:

  1. Log-in to DoNotPay and go to the Ticket Disputes category. Select the correct product based on your traffic ticket.

  2. Upload a photo of your citation.

  3. Provide us with some details on why you believe the citation issued is a mistake.

  4. Select whether or not you want the letter mailed to the traffic ticket issuer on your behalf!
  5. That’s it! You’ll receive an appeal letter that contains state vehicle codes to boost your case.

It's that simple! Look out for your traffic ticket issuer's response to discover whether you won.

What Else Can DoNotPay Do?

Do you need to fight a traffic ticket in San Francisco? DoNotPay can help. Check out our traffic ticket tool today, or take a look at our other valuable tools to help make your life easier.

with DoNotPay today and enjoy having a reliable and efficient AI Consumer Champion fight your battles with you.

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