What these common California tickets cost in 2026, and how points work.
Cell Phone and Stop Sign Tickets in California
Cell phone and stop sign tickets are two of the most common tickets in California. They cost less than a red light or high-speed ticket, but they still add up, and one of them can put a point on your record. Here's what each one costs under the Judicial Council's 2026 Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule.
| Violation | Base fine | Total | DMV points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holding and using a phone while driving, VC 23123.5(a), first offense | $20 | About $179 | 0 (see below) |
| Same violation, second or later offense | $50 | About $290 | 1 if within 36 months of a prior |
| Failure to stop at a stop sign, VC 22450(a) | $35 | About $247 | 1 |
These totals come from the 2026 statewide schedule, as printed in Glenn County's edition. Each county adds or leaves out some local charges, so your total may be a little higher or lower. The amount on your courtesy notice is the one that counts.
California's Cell Phone Law
Under Vehicle Code 23123.5, you can't hold and operate a phone or other wireless device while driving. You can use a phone that's mounted on the dashboard or windshield and operated with a single tap or swipe, or use it hands-free. Drivers under 18 can't use a phone at all while driving, even hands-free.
When a Cell Phone Ticket Adds a Point
Since July 1, 2021, a handheld phone ticket adds a point only if it happens within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same offense. A first ticket doesn't add a point. A second one within three years does, and so do later ones.
Stop Sign Tickets
A stop sign ticket under Vehicle Code 22450(a) has a $35 base fine, which grows to about $247 once penalties are added. It's a 1-point violation. Most stop sign tickets are for a "rolling stop," where the car slows but doesn't fully stop at the limit line. Failing to stop at a stop sign at a railroad crossing (VC 22450(b)) carries a much higher fine, about $475.
Can You Take Traffic School?
For a stop sign ticket, usually yes. It's a one-point infraction, so it generally qualifies if you have a valid license, haven't taken traffic school in the past 18 months, and weren't driving a commercial vehicle. Traffic school keeps that point off the record your insurance company sees.
A first cell phone ticket doesn't add a point, so there's no point to keep off. If your cell phone ticket would add a point because of a prior conviction, ask the court whether traffic school is an option.
Under California law, one conviction in any 18-month period can be kept confidential when you finish traffic school, so the point stays off the record your insurance company sees. Commercial license holders who got the ticket in their own car can usually attend, but the conviction still shows on their record, without a point.
How to Handle Your Ticket
- Check your courtesy notice. It shows your due date and whether your violation is eligible for traffic school.
- Request traffic school before the due date. Follow the court's instructions. Paying the fine alone can close your case with the point on your record.
- Pay the fine and the court's fee. California courts charge a traffic school administrative fee on top of the fine. The school's price is separate.
- Finish by the court's deadline. When you pass, FastOneDay reports your completion to the court and the DMV the same day.
The court's traffic school fee is usually about $50 to $70, on top of the fine. Check the exact amount with your court. If you can't afford the full amount, every California court lets you ask for a lower amount, a payment plan, or more time through the state's MyCitations tool.
Keep the Point Off Your Record
FastOneDay is a California DMV-licensed online traffic school, License #E0103. Here's how it works:
- Take the whole course free and pay only when you're ready for the final exam
- Use your phone, tablet, or computer, and log in and out as often as you like
- Turn on the audio if you'd rather listen than read
- The final is open book, and you need 70% to pass
- We report your completion to the court and the DMV electronically the same day you pass
- Live phone help 7 days a week, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., at (888) 928-3383
- 100% money-back guarantee
Most students finish in one day. Register now, see how it works, or try the free demo. Cutting it close? Read what to do when traffic school is due tomorrow.
Helpful Traffic Ticket Guides
- Where to find your citation number
- How much is a speeding ticket in California?
- Pay a California traffic ticket online
- Check our license on the DMV traffic school list
