If you get a speeding ticket in California, the first thing to do is to look carefully at the citation to see what court will be handling the ticket and when your court date is. Step 2 is to look in your piggy bank to see how much you have saved up. Even if you choose to fight the ticket and request a trial, you will still have to pay the fine by your original court date. Then, if you are found not guilty, the court will refund the cost of your fine. If you can't pay the entire amount of the fine by the due date, you may be able to make payment arrangements with the court.

Next, decide how you want to handle your ticket, based on the options listed above. Remember, if a California speeding ticket goes on your driving record, your can expect your insurance premiums to rise dramatically. So, it's best to try to keep it off of your record, either by fighting the ticket if you think you have a case or by taking traffic school.