Celebrating 40 years of service to the Courts and Government Agencies, California Traffic Safety Institute (CTSI) is a non-profit company, which has been providing staffing and other services to the California Superior Courts in the administration of the traffic violation school programs since June 27, 1985.
CTSI operates under the legislative authority of CVC 11205 as amended in September 1991.
Pursuant to AB2499, which was passed in the 2009-2010 legislative session, effective July 1, 2011, traffic violations where a defendant has elected or been ordered to attend a traffic violator school (TVS) will no longer be a dismissal on the driving record. They will now become a confidential conviction.
A confidential conviction will mask the violation from your public record. Insurance companies will not see the confidential conviction.
A traffic violator school conviction will not be masked if:
- There is a successful TVS completion within the previous 18 months.
- The conviction is a major (2 point) violation (DUI or Reckless Driving).
- The driver was operating a commercial vehicle at the time of the violation.
- A Class A or B licensee operating a non-commercial vehicle (0 points displayed).
Important Traffic School Attendance Information:
A court may refer a driver to traffic violator school at any time. However, California Vehicle Code Section 1808.7 mandates that only one conviction in an eighteen (18) month period be masked from public view on your driving record. The eighteen (18) month period is calculated from citation/violation date, not class attendance date. Courts are required to adjudicate all major (2 point) violations; courts are prohibited from sending drivers who commit major violations to traffic violator schools for the purpose of masking a conviction.
If you need an extension of time, please contact the court which imposed the sentence; CTSI has no authority to grant extensions. You may attend any traffic violator school with a valid license status listed on the DMV’s web-site. When you have completed the course, the school will issue you a receipt and the school will file the completion certificate electronically.
Benefits of Attending Traffic Violator School:
NOTICE: If you are eligible and decide not to attend traffic school your automobile insurance may be adversely affected. The citation will also go on your record and reflect the point count that goes along with the violation.
A Couple Key 2026 Traffic Safety Laws in California
School Zone & Highway Speed Changes:
Lower school zone speed limits: Lower the default school zone speed limit from 25 mph to 20 mph beginning Jan. 1, 2031, the lower limit automatically applies where signs are posted to help reduce speeding and save lives.
“Slow Down, Move Over” Expanded:
Drivers must move over or slow down not only for emergency vehicles, but any stationary highway vehicle displaying hazard lights, cones, flares, or warning devices — for the safety of workers and others on the roadside.
License Plate Obstruction or Alteration:
Makes it an infraction with a fine of $1,000 to manufacture in California a product or device that obscures, or is intended to obscure or interfere with the visual or electronic reading of a license plate, addressing the use of illegal license plate covers that enable toll evasion and other criminal activity.
For additional traffic safety laws going into effect on January 1, 2026 you can visit DMV website https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/news-and-media/dmv-highlights-new-laws-in-2026/ or the California Highway Patrol website at https://www.chp.ca.gov/news-alerts/news-list/new-year-new-laws–chp-highlights-public-safety-laws-taking-effect-in-2026/.
