Kern County Traffic Ticket Guide
A Kern County traffic ticket is heard at the court facility printed at the bottom of it: the Metropolitan Traffic Division in Bakersfield, or one of the branch courthouses in Delano, Lamont, Mojave, Ridgecrest and Shafter, which the court assigns by the area where the ticket was written. The Traffic Ticket Attorneys fight traffic tickets in Kern County courts from our office in Glendale, and the first consultation is free.
Courthouses That Hear Traffic Tickets in Kern County
The Superior Court of California, County of Kern hears traffic infractions at six courthouses. Local Rule 1.7.4 sets venue by ZIP code under the court’s Appendix A, and the court states that each ticket shows at the bottom which court facility handles it.
| Courthouse | Address | Areas it hears |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Traffic Division | 3131 Arrow Street, Bakersfield, CA 93308 | Bakersfield, Oildale, Rosedale, Edison, Greenacres and the surrounding communities |
| Lamont courthouse | 12022 Main Street, Lamont, CA 93241 | Arvin, Lamont, Weedpatch, Taft, Maricopa, Frazier Park, Lebec, Gorman, Grapevine, Pine Mountain Club and nearby communities |
| Mojave courthouse | 1773 State Highway 58 Business, Mojave, CA 93501 | Tehachapi, California City, Rosamond, Boron, Mojave, Edwards AFB, Trona, Bear Valley Springs, Stallion Springs and nearby communities |
| Ridgecrest courthouse | 132 E. Coso Avenue, Ridgecrest, CA 93555 | Ridgecrest, Inyokern, China Lake, and the Kern River Valley, including Kernville, Lake Isabella and Wofford Heights |
| Delano courthouse | 1122 Jefferson Street, Delano, CA 93215 | Delano, McFarland and nearby communities |
| Shafter courthouse | 325 Central Valley Highway, Shafter, CA 93263 | Shafter, Wasco, Buttonwillow, Lost Hills and nearby communities |
The branch courthouses are open Monday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon. The Metropolitan Traffic Division’s lobby opens at 7:30 a.m.
Source: the court’s Appendix A, Venue Information, its Local Rules (Rule 1.7.4), its Traffic Court page and its location pages for the six courthouses, read October 6, 2026.
What Happens After a Ticket in Kern County
The court sets out these steps on its Traffic Court page and in its local rules.
The Notice and the Due Date
Within a few weeks of the ticket, the court mails a courtesy notice with the fine amount or, where a court appearance is mandatory, the appearance date and time. The court states that the notice should arrive at least 10 days before the appearance date, and that a driver who does not receive it still answers by the date on the ticket.
Paying the Ticket
The court takes payment online through its payment service, which allows one extension per ticket, by mail, and in person, with 24-hour drop boxes at 3131 Arrow Street and at the court’s Revenue Recovery office in Bakersfield. Payment plans for new cases are set up through the Metropolitan Traffic Division’s financial services (the court’s Fees and Fine Payment Options page).
Traffic School
The court lists these conditions: no traffic school on a ticket issued in the previous 18 months, a valid driver’s license, speed no more than 25 mph over the limit, no mandatory appearance, and a due date that has not passed. A Class A, B or commercial Class C license holder cited while driving a non-commercial vehicle is eligible: the conviction is not masked on the record, and no point is added. The bail and the court’s traffic school fee are paid before the course, and the court then gives about 60 days to finish (the court’s Traffic School page).
Contesting the Ticket
The court’s Local Rule 4.2 and its forms set out these routes:
- A not guilty plea before the appearance date. It is made before a clerk or in writing, with the full bail. The clerk sets the arraignment and the trial on the same date, 30 to 45 days out.
- A not guilty plea at arraignment. No bail deposit is required unless the court orders one.
- A court trial. The court subpoenas the officer who wrote the ticket. Kern County infraction trials are heard by a court commissioner.
- A trial by written declaration. The driver files form TR-205 with the full bail, the officer submits a written statement, and the court mails its ruling. A driver who disagrees can ask for a new trial within 20 days of the mailing (the court’s Trial by Declaration form).
Appearing by Video
The court posts CourtCall video and phone links for the Bakersfield traffic courtroom and for courtrooms at the Lamont and Mojave courthouses (the court’s Remote Hearings page).
Kern County Runs a Traffic Division in Bakersfield and Five Branch Courts
Kern County keeps a dedicated traffic courthouse in Bakersfield, the Metropolitan Traffic Division, and hears tickets from the rest of the county at its five branch courthouses. Local Rule 4.1 makes the Traffic Division responsible for all infractions, traffic and non-traffic. Four other details shape a Kern County case:
- Venue by ZIP code. Appendix A assigns every town in the county to one courthouse. Taft, Frazier Park and the Grapevine go to Lamont; Tehachapi, California City and Rosamond go to Mojave; the Kern River Valley goes to Ridgecrest.
- Commissioner trials. The court’s advisement form states: “The right to a trial before a court commissioner for infractions; you do not have the right to a trial before a judge” (form TR-0505).
- Bakersfield red light cameras. The court states that Bakersfield began photo-enforced red lights in March 2003, and the Bakersfield Police Department issues those tickets (the court’s Red Light Tickets page).
- Traffic night court. The Metropolitan Traffic Division holds night court at 5:00 p.m. on set dates, for drivers who cannot attend day court; sign-up closes at 4:00 p.m. that day.
DUI cases go to the court’s Criminal Department.
Our Record in Kern County Courts
Our Victory List shows 12 Kern County cases listed as dismissed, as of October 6, 2026: 11 at Lamont and 1 at Mojave.
| Date | Court, as listed | Vehicle Code section | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/6/25 | Lamont | 22406 (a) CDL | Dismissed |
| 6/6/25 | Lamont | 22407 CDL | Dismissed |
| 6/6/25 | Lamont | 22348 (c) CDL | Dismissed |
| 5/9/25 | Lamont | 22356 (b) | Dismissed |
| 4/25/25 | Mojave | 22356 (b) | Dismissed |
| 8/22/23 | Lamont | 22407 CDL | Dismissed |
| 8/14/23 | Lamont | 22406 (a) CDL | Dismissed |
| 8/14/23 | Lamont | 34506.3 CDL | Dismissed |
| 7/31/23 | Lamont | 22407 CDL | Dismissed |
| 7/6/22 | Lamont | 22406 (a) CDL | Dismissed |
| 5/13/22 | Lamont | 22348 (c) CDL | Dismissed |
| 5/2/22 | Lamont | 22406 (a) CDL | Dismissed |
Past results do not guarantee a future outcome. Every case turns on its own facts.
Questions About Kern County Traffic Tickets
Which Courthouse Is on My Ticket?
The court facility is printed at the bottom of the ticket, and the courtesy notice repeats it. The court assigns each area by ZIP code: Bakersfield-area tickets go to the Metropolitan Traffic Division, and tickets from the rest of the county go to Delano, Lamont, Mojave, Ridgecrest or Shafter, as the table above shows.
Can I Go to Traffic School for This Ticket?
Under the court’s conditions, a ticket can go to traffic school when there was no traffic school on a ticket from the previous 18 months, the driver has a valid license, the speed was no more than 25 mph over the limit, the ticket carries no mandatory appearance, and the due date has not passed. A commercial license holder cited in a personal vehicle can attend, but the conviction stays visible on the record without a point.
Do I Have to Appear in Person?
Many infractions can be paid, sent to traffic school or contested by written declaration by mail. A misdemeanor with a mandatory appearance is heard in court. The court posts remote video and phone links for its Bakersfield, Lamont and Mojave traffic courtrooms.
What Happens If I Miss My Court Date?
The court states that a driver who does not pay or appear by the date on the ticket can be tried in absence under Vehicle Code section 40903(a), and that a late payment can bring a civil assessment of up to $100. A missed mandatory appearance on a misdemeanor leads to a warrant (the court’s Failure to Appear or Pay page). Our failure to appear page explains how these cases work.
Can a Lawyer From Glendale Handle a Ticket Here?
Yes. Our attorneys fight tickets in Kern County courts, and our Victory List shows dismissed cases at Lamont and Mojave, including commercial drivers’ cases. We review the ticket and the courtesy notice, explain the options the court offers for that ticket, and handle the court appearances the case requires. No lawyer can promise an outcome.
We Fight Kern County Tickets From Our Glendale Office
From our office in Glendale, The Traffic Ticket Attorneys fight traffic tickets in Los Angeles County courts, in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties, and across California. Our attorneys have over 45 years of combined experience in fighting traffic tickets, including CDL tickets, red light camera tickets and failure to appear cases.
Sources
Superior Court of California, County of Kern
- Metropolitan Traffic Division(opens in a new tab)
- Lamont(opens in a new tab)
- Mojave(opens in a new tab)
- Ridgecrest(opens in a new tab)
- Delano(opens in a new tab)
- Shafter(opens in a new tab)
- Appendix A, Venue Information(opens in a new tab)
- Local Rules(opens in a new tab)
- Traffic Court(opens in a new tab)
- Fees and Fine Payment Options(opens in a new tab)
- Traffic School(opens in a new tab)
- Trial by Declaration(opens in a new tab)
- Remote Hearings(opens in a new tab)
- form TR-0505(opens in a new tab)
- Red Light Tickets(opens in a new tab)
- Failure to Appear or Pay(opens in a new tab)