Petty Offense Docket/Traffic Tickets
Petty Offense proceedings will be held by video or teleconference only, as indicated on your Notice of Appearance.
Central Violations Bureau (CVB)
The CVB is the national center charged with processing violation notices (tickets) issued, and payments received for petty offenses and traffic violations committed on federal property. For information on how to pay your ticket (on-line or by mail), please visit the CVB website at www.cvb.uscourts.gov , or contact the CVB directly at 1-800-827-2982. Please do not mail payment to the Court unless the Court directs you to do so.
Violation Notices (Tickets) Information
When a federal law enforcement agency issues a violation notice (ticket), it sends the original copy to the CVB, located in San Antonio, Texas. The CVB enters the ticket into its database and tracks the status of the ticket, including payment history, until the case is closed. If the CVB does not receive payment of the fine within 30 days of the ticket’s issuance, it will mail you a notice to appear in court by phone or video. This notice will give you two to three weeks’ notice of the date, time, and place you’re required to appear in court by phone or video.
If a ticket is marked “optional appearance” by the issuing officer, you may do one of the following:
- Pay the fine before the court date. The payment of the citation will not be reported to the California DMV. The case will thereby be closed, and you need not appear in court (or by phone or video).
- Do not pay the fine, and appear in court by phone or video on the scheduled date, time, and place to contest the ticket. You may also call the appropriate location as indicated below and ask to reschedule your appearance.
If a ticket is marked “mandatory appearance” by the issuing officer:
- You must appear in court by phone or video on the scheduled date, time and place as indicated in CVB’s Notice to Appear or call the appropriate location as indicated and ask to reschedule your appearance.
Rescheduling
If you cannot appear in court by phone or video at the scheduled date and time on the ticket, you must call the appropriate location to reschedule your appearance:
- San Francisco (415) 522-2149
- Eureka and Santa Rosa (707) 445-3612
- Salinas and San Jose (408) 916-2230
To request a disposition of a matter after court is over, please contact the CVB directly.
Petty Offense Court Proceedings
All proceedings are being held virtually by Zoom. DO NOT come to the federal courthouse. The Central Violations Bureau will mail each person a Notice of Hearing with a date and time for you to join the virtual proceeding. At your assigned date and time, you join by your choice of either phone or browser on a computer/smartphone.
Phone: Call (669) 254 5252. At the prompt, enter the Meeting ID 160 744 6117 and then the password 038211.
Browser (computer/smartphone): Click link https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1607446117 and use the password 038211.
There is no judge presiding over the petty offense docket. The proceeding is an informal settlement conference between you and a representative of the Office of the U.S. Attorney. There is also a representative of the Office of the Federal Public Defender on the call to answer questions and to assist you in your discussions with the prosecutor. At the settlement conference, you will discuss and try to resolve your citation(s) and to schedule a trial, if required. If a trial is scheduled, you may be entitled to an appointed attorney. If you have any questions, you may contact the Office of the Federal Public Defender: Christine_Miles@fd.org or (415) 265-1014.