An empty online search does not mean the citation was canceled or that a date printed on it can be ignored. First confirm the court and county named on the paper, then contact that court if its online search shows no case. Court websites do not all display the same cases or update at the same time.
Read the paper citation before searching again
Check the citation or notice for its number, issuing agency, code section, court name, county, and any appearance or response date. Keep every page and any later letter. If the citation does not clearly identify the court, contact the issuing agency or the court in the county where the event occurred to confirm where it was sent.
Search the named court’s own case system using the citation number and the name or other information requested by that court. If no result appears, California Courts says online lookup varies by court; courthouse computers or the clerk may provide information when it is not available online. (California Courts: Look Up a Case) When you call or visit, note the date, the office contacted, and any instructions you receive. Ask what to do about the date on the citation while the record is unavailable; do not assume the clerk can change a court date.
If the online case shows a different date
Confirm that the entry matches the citation’s case number, name, court and charge. Save the conflicting entry and any later notice, then ask the court clerk to confirm the current calendar and what the record shows about the change. Give counsel both dates and the response you receive. Neither a conflicting website entry nor a pending inquiry should be treated as an automatic extension or permission to miss an appearance.
The kind of citation changes the next step
For a traffic ticket, the paper identifies the court and what to do and when. A traffic courtesy notice may take 30 days or longer to arrive; if it does not, California Courts directs people to contact the court in the county where the ticket was issued. That timing concerns a traffic courtesy notice, not every criminal case or filing. DUI tickets are handled in criminal court, rather than through the ordinary traffic-ticket process. (California Courts: Traffic Tickets)
A nontraffic citation may allege an infraction or a misdemeanor. California Courts advises checking the citation and contacting the court or a lawyer when unsure. Paying an infraction generally resolves it as an admission, so do not simply pay a citation that may be criminal or that you do not understand. (California Courts: Nontraffic Infractions) A misdemeanor or DUI citation calls for case-specific attention; an empty portal result does not resolve the charge or the date on the citation.
Keep the citation, search results, and any clerk response together. If a listed appearance is approaching, or the citation alleges a misdemeanor or DUI, seek advice promptly even if the online docket remains blank. For help understanding a criminal citation or next step, contact the Law Offices of David S. Chesley at (800) 755-5174.