California Trial by Written Declaration: Where to Start

1. Confirm which procedure your court offers

Check your citation and court notice for the response date, alleged violation and any mandatory appearance requirement. Ask the traffic clerk whether your case can use a Trial by Written Declaration and how to request it. Do not assume that receiving a speeding ticket automatically makes you eligible.

TicketCleared currently supports California speeding infractions under VC 22349, 22349(a), 22349(b), and 22350. That is the product scope, not a complete list of cases a court may consider. If your charge is different or unclear, confirm the section before using the service.

2. Write down the court deadline and bail instructions

Traditional written-declaration filings generally require a bail deposit. Confirm the amount, payment method and due date with your court. For example, Marin Superior Court instructs people using this process to post the full bail when filing the request. Use your own court notice, not another county's instructions, for your case.

Bail paid to the court is separate from TicketCleared's document-preparation fee. Paying TicketCleared does not pay your ticket, extend a court deadline, or submit anything to the court.

3. Gather the facts before drafting

Separate what the citation alleges from what you personally remember. A useful starting file keeps the ticket, court notice, your recollection and any relevant supporting material together. Do not fill gaps by guessing what an officer saw or which equipment was used.

In the TicketCleared intake, review every field extracted from an uploaded ticket. The workflow asks for the charge, alleged speed, measurement method if known, firsthand facts and optional witness information. A witness draft should describe that person's own observations.

• Citation and any court notice, including both sides if information is printed there.
• Court name, citation number, confirmed deadline and filing instructions.
• A factual account in your own words and relevant photos or other evidence.
• Witness details only when someone personally observed relevant events.

4. Review the package and file it yourself

For eligible paper filings, TicketCleared prepares the official TR-205 with declaration attachments and a filing checklist. You preview the defendant declaration, then pay $29 to unlock the documents. An optional witness declaration is included when applicable.

Check the complete downloaded packet, sign where required, and follow the court's delivery and payment instructions. TicketCleared does not represent you or file for you. If the court directs you to an online process, follow that portal's instructions instead of assuming a paper packet can be uploaded unchanged.

5. Keep the court decision and read the next-step instructions

The court decides the outcome from the evidence. No template, service or particular wording guarantees dismissal. Read the decision when it arrives and contact the court promptly about any available next steps and deadlines. Online and traditional paper procedures can differ.

Keep copies of what you filed and the court's response. TicketCleared's published refund terms explain what documentation is needed for a refund request; a refund policy does not predict the result of your case.