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1. Where do I pay a traffic ticket?

The court address will be marked on the bottom of the citation. At the bottom of the traffic ticket you received, a court date will be marked. By signing the ticket, you are not admitting guilt, but you are promising to appear in court on or before that date.

The court will usually send a courtesy notice to the address on the citation. If you do not receive a courtesy notice, you would have to go in person to the assigned court and locate their traffic window. The court clerk will provide you with the bail amount (how much to pay) and traffic school information. If you have attended traffic school within 18 months of the violation, you will not qualify for traffic school.

Find more information on your traffic ticket.

2. Can the Alhambra Police Department sign off my "fix-it" ticket?

Correctable violations (violations for equipment, no license plate, or registration) can be inspected, verified, and signed off by the Alhambra Police Department to Alhambra residents or those citations written by the Alhambra Police Department only, and are handled by the Traffic Section. Violations for driving without a license or no insurance are handled by the appointed Court.

3. Can I refuse to take tests if I am stopped for DUI?

California law requires you to take a breath or blood test if you are arrested for a DUI. California's "implied consent" law says that if you are lawfully arrested by a police officer who has probable cause to believe that you have been driving under the influence, then you consent to take a chemical test of your blood, breath, or urine for the purpose of determining your blood alcohol content (BAC). The test must be taken at the time of your arrest, and the officer should give you the choice between a blood or breath test. If neither blood nor breath tests are available, then you have to take a urine test. Additionally, California's implied consent law says that you consent to take a preliminary breath test, even if you have not been arrested. This works like a field sobriety test. The officer will use the results to establish probable cause that you were driving under the influence. You do not have to take this preliminary test, and the officer should say so. Refusing it, however, probably won't work in your favor if the officer has some other reason to think you had been drinking. Based on that other reason, the officer could still arrest you, and then you will be required to take a blood or another breathing test. Refusing to take the tests will result in a suspension or revocation of your driver's license by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

4. If I spot an abandoned vehicle on a public street, what should I do?

Please contact the Alhambra Police Department at 626-570-5151. Please provide the License Plate number, a brief description, and the location of the vehicle.

5. I don’t know who towed my vehicle, what do I do?

Please contact the Alhambra Police Department Dispatch at 626-570-5151 providing them the license plate number of your vehicle. If you do not know your license plate number, provide dispatch the registered owner's name and address, and dispatch will be able to search the DMV database.

6. How do I get my vehicle out of impound?

If the vehicle was impounded for a 30-day hold 14602.6(a)V.C., please contact the Alhambra Police Department Traffic Division at 626-570-5119 to schedule an appointment for a hearing.

The vehicle can be released to the registered owner who has a valid California driver's license only. The vehicle must also be currently registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles. An administrative fee of $97.75 is due upon release. Cash, check, money order, or credit card (Discover, Visa, or MasterCard) will be accepted.

7. My car was towed but I contest the validity of the authority to store the vehicle. What can I do?

If the vehicle was impounded for a 30-day hold 14602.6(a)V.C., please contact the Alhambra Police Department Traffic Division at 626-570-5119 to schedule an appointment for a hearing.

8. I got a traffic ticket, but I didn’t receive anything in the mail. How do I know what to pay or if I can go to traffic school?

At the bottom of the traffic ticket you received, a court date will be marked. By signing the ticket, you are not admitting guilt, but you are promising to appear in court on or before that date. The court address will be marked on the bottom of the citation.

The court will usually send a courtesy notice to the address on the citation. If you do not receive a courtesy notice, you would have to go in person to the assigned court and locate their traffic window. The court clerk will provide you with the bail amount (how much to pay) and traffic school information. If you have attended traffic school within 18 months of the violation, you will not qualify for traffic school.

9. When do I have to report a traffic accident, and to whom?

If you are involved in a traffic collision whether you are on public property or private property, you must exchange information with the other responsible party per 16025(a) V.C. The information that is exchanged is the current driver's license name, address, license number, license plate number or vehicle identification number (VIN), and current proof of insurance.

Once that is accomplished, depending on the severity of the collision if the damage to the property of any one person in excess of seven hundred fifty dollars ($750), or in bodily injury, or in the death of any person shall report the accident, within 10 days after the accident, either personally or through an insurance agent, broker, or legal representative, on a form approved by the DMV per 16000(a) V.C.

If you are in the City of Alhambra and you are involved in a collision, please contact the Alhambra Police Department at 626-570-5151 to report the collision and a Dispatcher will assist you.

10. While driving my car, I struck and damaged property (other than another car). What do I do?

You must locate a responsible person (property owner) who owns the property. Once you locate the responsible person of the property that was damaged, you exchange information per 16025(a)V.C. The information that is exchanged is the current driver's license name, address, license number, license plate number or vehicle identification number (VIN), and current proof of insurance. Once that is accomplished, depending on the severity of the collision if the damage to the property of any one person in excess of seven hundred fifty dollars ($750), or in bodily injury, or in the death of any person shall report the accident, within 10 days after the accident, either personally or through an insurance agent, broker, or legal representative, on a form approved by the DMV per 16000(a) V.C.

If you are in the City of Alhambra and you are involved in a collision, please contact the Alhambra Police Department at 626-570-5151 to report the collision and a Dispatcher will assist you.

11. Does the Alhambra Police Department install child safety seats?

Yes. Please contact the Alhambra Police Department Traffic Division at 626-570-5119 to schedule an appointment.

12. What's the age limit to carry passengers in the car?

Persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian and/or a licensed driver 25 years of age or older when transporting passengers under 20 years of age. There are no restrictions for adults to transport passengers as long as they are licensed

13. I am visiting from another country. Do I need to obtain a California driver’s license?

If you are a visitor in California and have a valid driver's license from your home state or country, you may drive in this state without getting a California driver's license as long as your home state/ country license remains valid. The State of California does not recognize an International Driving Permit (IDP) as a valid driver's license. California does recognize a valid driver's license that is issued by a foreign jurisdiction (country, state, territory) of which the license holder is a resident. If you become a California resident, you must get a California driver's license within 10 days. Residency is established by voting in a California election, paying resident tuition, filing for a homeowner's property tax exemption, renting a home in California, or any other privilege or benefit not ordinarily extended to nonresidents. On a similar note, the IDP is only a translation of information contained on a person's foreign driver's license and is not required to operate a motor vehicle in California and as mentioned is not a permit to drive. IDP's are advised to obtain if issued by the resident country. It is also recommended to carry another form of ID like a passport. Additionally, a non-resident under the age of 18 with a valid license from a foreign jurisdiction can only drive in California for 10 days. After 10 days, a non-resident minor must obtain a non-resident minor's certificate issued by DMV. Proof of financial responsibility is a prerequisite to obtaining a non-resident minor certificate. A non-resident minor in the military has 60 days to drive before having to obtain a non-resident minor certificate or full California driver's license.