If you wish to appeal your parking decision you will
be referred to the Traffic Division, please contact the court for further
information either by phone at (559) 582-1010 extension 3053 or you may
appear in person at the Superior Court of Kings County Criminal-Division
located at 1426 South Drive, Hanford, CA 93230.
All traffic citations involving juveniles are
processed and heard by the Kings County Probation Department. For
questions regarding a citation you may contact the Kings County Probation
Department located at 1400 W. Lacey Blvd., Hanford, CA 93230 or by
telephone at (559) 582-3211 extension 2850. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday.
The Traffic Division processes both traffic and
non-traffic violations depending on the severity of the charge. Some
non-traffic violations include fish and game, alcohol related offenses,
animal control, boating, and violations of city and county ordinances.
An arraignment is the initial appearance before the
court. At the hearing the charges are presented, the opportunity to enter
a plea is given and a determination is made whether the party (defendant)
has or is requesting time to hire an attorney. Traffic cases are
infractions punishable by a fine only, attorneys are appointed to those
parties unable to hire an attorney in those cases where the party may be
sentenced to jail and or prison. The bail amount may be set and a future
appearance date may be scheduled. The citing officer will not be present.
You may enter one of the following pleas:
- Guilty: You admit the violation(s). You
may explain the circumstances to the court. Your appearance is
necessary and will result in a conviction once your plea has been
entered.
- Not Guilty: You deny the violations(s) and
want to contest the charges and want the citing officer present. This
will be a trial by court. You may request a jury trial only if you are
charged with a misdemeanor or a felony.
- No Contest: You neither admit nor deny the
violation(s) as charged. This plea is treated the same as a guilty
plea.
The Superior Court of Kings County does not mail out
courtesy notices. It is not mandatory that the court send you a notice in
the mail. The law enforcement agency will assign your court date at the
time the citation is issued. By signing the citation you have given your
written promise that you will comply with the information written below
your signature. You are responsible for contacting the court either in
person or by phone or you may contact the automated information system at
(559) 584-0362 for information regarding the bail (fine) amount.
The automated information system will give
information regarding your citation. It will allow you to pay the bail
(fine) by credit card, it will advise you if you are eligible for traffic
school and accept payment for traffic school. The system will also advise
you if your violation requires a mandatory appearance. When utilizing the
automated information system you will need to have your citation
available. The automated information system cannot accept payment for
those citations involving a proof of correction. If you have difficulty
with the system or wish to speak to a clerk you should contact the traffic
division at (559) 582-1010 at extensions 3053, 3055, or 3056.
WARNING: Failure to comply with the terms may
result in your bail (fine) being increased, a $250.00 Civil Assessment
being imposed and referral to a collection agency, a hold placed on your
driver’s license, and/or a warrant being issued.
You may have been cited with a violation which
requires you to appear in court. If proof is also required, you must
bring the proof to your scheduled arraignment date. Failure to appear may
result in a warrant being issued for your arrest and a hold placed on your
driver’s license. Mandatory appearance citation cannot be paid without
first appearing in court. If you have any questions you may contact the
court by phone at (559) 582-1010 extension 3053, 3055 or 3056 or you may
appear in person at the Traffic Division located in the Superior Court of
Kings County Criminal Division at 1426 South Drive, Hanford, CA 93230.
This type of citation is issued by the California
Highway Patrol for certain types of correctable violations. You are
required to submit proof of correction(s) to the California Highway Patrol
within 30 days. If you fail to submit proof of correction(s) to the
California Highway Patrol the citation will be referred to the court for
action including referral to collections.
If you were involved in an accident, the Law
Enforcement Agency will determine if a citation will be issued after
completion of their investigation. If the agency determines a citation is
warranted you will receive a written notice from the agency or Kings
County District Attorney’s Office. You may wish to contact the citing law
enforcement agency if you do not receive a notice within 30 days from the
date of your accident.
To obtain a copy of an accident report, contact the
citing law enforcement agency.
Driving Under the Influence cases are not processed
by the Traffic Division they are processed by the Criminal Divisions of
the Superior Court. Those violations occurring in Hanford and or Lemoore
jurisdictions are heard in the Hanford Division, those that occurred in
Corcoran jurisdiction are heard in Corcoran Division and those occurring
in Avenal jurisdiction are heard in the Avenal Division. If you have any
questions as to date, time and or location set for hearing, please call
the Criminal Division (559) 582-1010 at extension
3037.
To request a (one time) 30 day extension you may
contact the Traffic Division either by phone at (559) 582-1010 at
extension 3053, 3055 or 3056 or appear in person at the Traffic Division
of the Superior Court of Kings County.
The law enforcement agency will assign your court
date at the time the citation is issued. If you wish to change your court
date you must appear in person. If you have already rescheduled your
appearance date or if the judicial officer or judge has given you a date
when you last appeared in court, a new court date is not an option.
Appearances-The officer(s) are not present at
the arraignment. If you request a court trial a subpoena will be issued
for his appearance at the court trial.
Complaints-The court has no jurisdiction over
the law enforcement officer(s). If you wish to file a complaint as to the
officer you will need to contact that agency. Below is a list of the
local agencies:
California Highway Patrol Kings
County Sheriff’s Department
1565 Glendale Ave 1444
W Lacey Blvd
Hanford, CA 93230
Hanford, CA 93230
(559)582-0231
(559) 582-3211 extension 2720
Lemoore Police Department Corcoran
Police Department
210 Fox Street
1033 Chittenden
Lemoore, CA 93245
Corcoran, CA 93212
(559) 924-9574
(559) 992-2151
Hanford Police Department
425 N. Irwin Street
Hanford, CA 93230
(559) 585-2540
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