Anyone done a trial de novo?

I've done it. What do you want to know?

Ok, here's what i did because i wanted to make sure everything got filed on time. I filled out the form ( http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms/documents/tr220.pdf ) and took it into the court office myself. It has to be turned in/filed within 20 days of the mailing date on your guilty verdict. When you turn in the form at the clerks window they will let you know how you will get your next court date. They might give it to you right on the spot when you turn in the form or they might mail you the specifics. Call in a week before the date they give you and see if you can get an extension. Main thing when fighting a ticket is extend extend extend. More info and reasons here: Fight Traffic Tickets / Contest Traffic Tickets with the Ticket Assassin: Your Guide to Fighting California Traffic Tickets & Contesting Traffic Citations in California

When you go to court for the trial de novo, the officer will either show up or not. Hopefully you remember his face because if he shows up in court, tell the bailiff ASAP! that you wish to change your plea and that you wanted to inquire about taking traffic school. If you don't remember what he looks like, they will take roll by case, both your name and the officers will be announced and if he is present then go up to the bailiff at this point. It looks horrible for you if you are just wasting the officers/courts time. If you are not really fighting the case and just want to change your plea and ask for traffic school then make sure the bailiff knows as soon as you figure out if the officer is at present or not. The judge and bailiff will give out instructions prior to any cases being heard so don't be too nervous if you don't understand. You can always ask the bailiff any questions. Now it is a lot to do, if you want to just take traffic school, talk to the clerk. Call by phone if you like and see if they can change the option to take traffic school. When you filled out your TBD there was an option "If found guilty, request for traffic school," and since it doesn't sound like you marked that option and the guilty verdict has been made by a judge... the clerk might not be able to make the option available to you without you seeing a judge. The clerk will let you know if there is anything you can do. If not you have to go with the trial de novo.

If you are eligible for traffic school (haven't taken traffic school in the past 18months,) yeah you can take a class. Yes the class will be more money... they will charge you a court fee for taking traffic school and separate from the court fee, you will need to pay for the traffic school class. The clerk will give you a list of traffic schools.

Yeah, no prob. The option to take traffic school if found guilty was on the TBD form that i picked up from the court. If you don't care about taking the points and just dealing with it...might as well trial de novo. Won't hurt minus the time you take to file and go to court. The worst they can tell you is, sorry but you are still found guilty and because you wasted the courts time you still cant take traffic school. Fuck them though, it's your right and your tax/ticket $$ pays their salary's.