Collections
General Information About Collections
The Court Collection Department provides enforcement of court-ordered Traffic and Criminal fines imposed in Tulare County. The court has seven collectors available Monday through Friday to provide assistance to defendants with delinquent fines. The collectors can be reached at the Collection Office from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or by phone from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Pre-Collections
Failure to Appear Notice
The Traffic and Criminal Filings departments will mail a Failure to Appear (FTA) notice when a defendant has failed to appear as promised by the signature at the bottom of the citation. When the defendant receives a Failure to Appear Civil Assessment notice, they must contact the originating court in order to pay the Bail Forfeiture amount in full or to request payment arrangements. If the defendant does not respond to the FTA notice within 20 days the case will be forwarded to the Traffic Commissioner to hold a Trial in Absentia, which may result in the case being referred to the court collection department.
Failure to Pay Notice
The Traffic and Criminal Filings departments will mail a Failure to Pay (FTP) notice when a defendant does not comply with a court agreement such as a payment plan. When the defendant receives a Failure to Pay Civil Assessment Notice, they must contact the originating court in order to pay the fine in full, or bring the original court order current. If the defendant does not respond to the FTP notice within 20 days the case will be referred to the court collection department.
Cases Referred To The Collection Department
Not responding to the original delinquent notice within the stated time will result in the case being referred to the Court Collections department, where a Civil Assessment of $300.00 will be imposed. Once a case is referred to Court Collections the fine must be paid in full. If the defendant is unable to pay the fine in full, the defendant can request payment arrangements of $150.00 per month. Payment arrangements can be made over the phone, or at the counter in the Court Collections department. If requested by phone, paperwork can be mailed to the defendant. The paperwork must be returned to the court within 10 days, along with the first payment. A one-time payment processing fee of $35.00 will be added to the fine, unless previously added.
If the defendant would like monthly payments below $150.00 per month, the court may request the defendant to complete an income and expense form and provide proof of income and expenses.
Unsigned Citations
Once an unsigned citation falls delinquent, a certified letter is mailed notifying the defendant of the delinquency. For unsigned citations resulting from a traffic accident, the defendant is given 15 calendar days from the date of the notice to provide proof of correction and/or to pay the bail forfeiture amount. For owner responsibility citations, the defendant is given 10 calendar days from the date of the notice to provide proof of correction and/or to pay the bail forfeiture amount in full.
Failure to comply within the time frames specified above will result in the original bail amount payable in full; proof of correction will no longer be accepted. If payment in full is not received, a Failure to Appear (FTA) notice will be mailed. If the defendant does not respond to the originating court within 20 days of the FTA notice being mailed, the cases will be referred to the Court Collections department and a Civil Assessment of $300.00 imposed. In addition, a Failure to Appear driver's license hold will be placed with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), where applicable. A DMV notification and release will result in an additional $10.00 fee (VC40508.6)
Making Payments
When making payments, please have your case number with you. If you do not know your case number, you will need to provide the name on the case, date of birth, social security number, current address, phone number, and as much information about the citation as possible to help us locate the correct case.
Payments can be made by the following methods
Online
Phone
559-730-5000 - Option 1, option 3
Attn: Court Collections
221 South Mooney Blvd.
Room G28
Visalia, CA 93291
In Person
221 South Mooney Blvd.
Room G28
Visalia, CA 93291
Low Monthly Payment Consideration
Low monthly payments may be granted by the court under certain circumstances and a court collector may request a completed Income and Expense form.
Once the form is completed, signed, and dated by the defendant, it can be brought to the collection counter, and a collector will review it. Based upon your fine amount and the amount of available income, payments will be set at the lowest amount possible. Payments will not be set lower than $35.00 per month.
Download Income and Expense form
Civil Assessment Reductions
Some cases may qualify for a reduction of the civil assessment if paid promptly. To verify whether your case qualifies for a civil assessment reduction please contact the court collections department to speak to a court collector.
Failure To Comply
Failure to contact the Court Collection department to resolve the case balance will result in the case being referred to the State Franchise Tax Board or to the court's private collection agency in an attempt to initiate wage garnishments, bank levies and tax return intercepts.
Why is Ventura Superior Court contacting me in regards to my case?
Some of our delinquent cases are referred to Ventura Superior court for further collection attempts. If you receive a call from a Ventura Superior Court collector, please work with them directly to resolve the matter.