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The San Mateo County Superior Court is now automatically enrolling cellphone numbers listed on criminal misdemeanor citations into its Court Date Text Reminder system.
The initiative aims to reduce failure-to-appear rates by sending text notifications about upcoming court dates.
The effort follows a revision to the Judicial Council of California’s TR-130 Notice to Appear citation form, which now includes an optional field for cellphone numbers. Individuals who do not provide their numbers on citations or those facing felony charges can still opt-in by completing an online form here.
Currently, text reminders are available for criminal and traffic cases. The court is exploring expanding the service to other case types, including family law.
The court acknowledged the support of law enforcement agencies in encouraging individuals to provide cellphone numbers when signing citations.
This collaboration is expected to enhance the program’s reach and effectiveness in improving court attendance rates.
