Imperial County Traffic School

Imperial County had 181,411 residents in the Census estimate for July 1, 2025. Interstate 8 crosses the south of the county past El Centro, State Route 111 runs from the Calexico border crossing north through El Centro and Brawley, State Route 86 follows the west shore toward the Salton Sea, and State Route 98 hugs the border. In 2023 the California Office of Traffic Safety counted 770 people killed or injured in county crashes, 53rd of 58 counties in a ranking where 1st is the worst.

The Traffic Division sits in the El Centro Courthouse at 939 West Main Street, and the Winterhaven Court at 2124 Winterhaven Drive is the county's second traffic court. The court lists no courthouse in Brawley or Calexico, so go by the courthouse your courtesy notice names. Tickets from the CHP's El Centro and Winterhaven Areas, the Imperial County Sheriff's Office and the city police departments all come to this one court.

The Pay or Appear date on your ticket is the deadline that counts. A courtesy notice is a reminder, not an extension, so if yours has not come, contact the court rather than wait for it. The court sets its traffic school fee, and the notice shows it along with whether you are eligible. Paying the fine alone closes the case, but the court says your DMV record will be affected.