If you do not complete the above options within the prescribed time, MTS will submit your citation to San Diego Superior Court for adjudication. Once filed in court, the presumptive fine is about $192 (including court fees) or more. Additional fines may be assessed for failure to appear or failure to pay by the required date. After submitting the citation to court, MTS has no control or discretion over how the citation will be adjudicated and processed.
Late Completion of Diversion Program
MTS wants to help individuals avoid the impacts of the court system. MTS will accept late completion of the Diversion Program, so long as participation occurs on or before the notice to appear date, which can be found at the bottom of your citation. How MTS can help with your court case depends on how close the notice to appear date is. The following table explains your options.
If MTS receives notice that the Motion to Dismiss was denied or that you were found guilty of fare evasion despite late completion of the Diversion Program prior to your notice to appear and/or trial date, MTS will attempt to refund your $25.00 payment to the mailing address provided on the Diversion Program Payment Form. You may also directly request a refund by emailing DiversionProgram@sdmts.com or by calling 619-557-4522 if you can show proof that despite late completion of the Diversion Program, the Motion to Dismiss was denied or that you were found guilty.
Post-Conviction Relief
If your court case has already been adjudicated and you were found guilty of fare evasion, there are various post-conviction relief measures you can participate in to help reduce the fees/fines owed to the court and/or clear your record. The following table explains your options.
Court Contact Information
There are multiple divisions of the San Diego Superior Court. Which court divisions your citation was sent to depends on where you were issued a citation. To identify which court your citation was sent to, please view the bottom of your citation to see which court division has been marked. The following table provides the contact information for each court division if you want to check on the status of your case, ask for an extension, request a trial, or you have any other court-related questions.
Feedback Requested
The Diversion Program is a new, pilot program for MTS. Your feedback on whether this FAQ on late completion of the Diversion Program provided clear, understandable information is important for MTS to receive. Also, if you had positive or negative experiences at the court trying to prove your successful completion of the Diversion Program and have your citation dismissed, we would also like to hear about this experience too. Please contact the MTS Diversion Program at DiversionProgram@sdmts.com with your feedback.