Van Nuys Courthouse West

Came to the courthouse to file a complaint and had to go through thr security doors and pat down just to get in. Process was simple file docs then serve the other party the filed docs then hearing date is set. I csme in the morning and it was super busy. The food vendors kept me from going hungry got me some of that delicious fruit they sell. Otherwise its just regular run of the mill courthouse oh there is also a police department in the same area.

It’s definitely not the clerks fault in many of these situations. I’m sure they’re paid just above minimum wage so they don’t want to be here just as much as us. This is America, we have laws, and obviously as citizens, we are here because we’ve broken them. The only thing I am not pleased with is the wait. You have to sit through court for hours and you would think you could just pay the ticket and leave. Unfortunately, there’s another long wait. I missed an entire day of work for this. I’m from Michigan and the set up is much better. The set up needs to be restructured immediately because no one should have to take an entire day to see a judge and decide if they want to pay the ticket or go to trial. It’s bananas. Plus, the officers are getting paid to sit in court, citizens are not.

The earlier the better! ! Try to get there around 7:30am and you won’t have to wait, plus you can park right in front of the courthouse for a couple of dollars for 2 hours. There are two lines. For Business licenses or Real Estate Recordings go to the right line. For Marriage Licenses, Birth and Death Certificates go to the left line. BTW if you’re getting the marriage license make sure you fill out the application online at home before you get there otherwise they’ll send you to fill out the application online to a computer room. The process is quick. 4 stars because they don’t have any information posted anywhere not even for their business hours. They open at 8:30am and if you’re obtaining your marriage license they’re only open til 3pm. We first went to get our marriage license on a Friday around 1pm and it was hot as hell and there were like over 100 people in front of us with kids crying and we just walked out. Hope this helps.

They made me throw away my selfie stick that was just folded in my purse at security. I have traveled the U.S. To different airports that never said a word about it! Do the Van Nuys security screeners not understand what a sharp weapon is? The selfie stick is plastic !

They are the worst! I show up to pay for a ticket (i believe was wrongly issued – making a left turn after pedestrian crossed the street but still had a few more steps before fully stepping onto the sidewalk) that costs over $ 600 and they are all out to lunch. Jeez, are they that short staffed that they can’t have someone cover the payment line? At least cover the payment line!

Bullshit they need to fix the windows so people won’t wait for hrs in line. Just to ask questions or pay fixit tickets. And it’s only 3 employees working everyday and they are 10 windows. Out of that only 3 windows and employees working and the city paying them. It needs more changes, and we need more court employees.

If you are here, something went wrong!
Everyone around/​in this building is annoyed, angry, most times hungry! Take the warning!
Long lines, long waits are expected but a clerk sending you to DMV twice (because they requested the wrong paper from you) in one day is not right!!!
No attempt on expediting anything here!!! Can’t come in and out of this place… expect to spend good part of your day here… bring a snack and a jacket… they crank up the AC like an Alaskan winter.

Seriously… and then they wonder why the rest of the world hate america. Because its a piece of shit country. Yea, were here for obvious reasons and then we will get the freak out… did you ever hear of anyone retiring in america? I haven’t.
They need to hire people that either speak the language or trained in what they are doing. Seriously… its kind of embarrassing when you think about it. And your court system and some laws are pathetic… go to a real country of class and learn somethings… then again, the so called people here are not to blame, just look at them. Maybe a few people that I came across were OK. A few… like the lady at the snack shop etc… lol

A few weeks ago I was ticketed for «not stopping all the way at a stop sign.» After the 2 week mark, I started trying to call in to request traffic school/​pay my fine.
Every. Single. Time. I called the number on my ticket, the number either did not ring at all, or it was busy. I tried calling other numbers at the court house to see if they could transfer me. Two kind commissioners did (Thank you Nancy & Dennis), but once transferred, the phone rang for 3 minutes, no one ever answered, and it disconnected at the 3 minute mark. This is inexcusable.
With my court date now days away, I thought I was going to have to take off work to show up at the courthouse myself. After reading previous reviews that mentioned «tickets cannot be handled online,» I had to double check.
This is 2015 people. After a few seconds of Googling, here is my gift to you:
There is the website where you can look up your ticket and 1) Pay it. 2) Request an extended court date. 3) Request Traffic School. 4) Make a reservation for a court date Arraignment.
This was my first ticket ever, so the traffic school option popped up for me. I paid everything with a credit card online, printed my receipt, and BAM. Finally done.
It would be nice if the LA Court would think to put this web address on the back of future tickets so people can save their time AND the court’s time by handling everything online.
I hope this review will help someone avoid dealing with that hellish phone number, or having to show up in person.

I went in to turn in a community service form, I had to wait in line in the first floor for almost an hour, there were about 6 people working in the office and four people in line. They were working EXTREMELY slow and taking talking breaks every half a minute. Once I received my STAMP on the piece of paper, they tell me I have to turn it in upstairs to the traffic department. I walk upstairs to find myself waiting for two hours. When it was finally my turn I was called up to the window by an elder African American woman wearing plastic gloves. She did not once make eye contact with me, it appeared as if someone sucked the little but of joy right out of her. She gave SO much attitude, after waiting the two hours I was being friendly and respectful. I have her my name, she slowly typed it in, and responds «I can’t find you, so I can’t help you» and rolls her eyes. I then offered the citation number, repeating each number SLOWLY, she still gave attitude, I asked her what my options were of a possible extension, she tells me the date it’s due which I OBVIOUSLY already knew– otherwise what would I be waiting in line for. I nicely respond «I’m aware of that ma’m, I’m asking for an extension» and she repeats the due date to me with «that’s when it’s due– NEXT!» She did not bother to say anything else, now some people may think she was getting to the point, I understand they must deal with a lot of angry people, but that’s what your job entitles. She should retire or look for a job where she can happily spread her love and joy.

Key is to get there very early and have your paper work in order. People there are actually nice. Park at the pAid parking lot off of Delano which is $ 10. I would suggest dressing as if you were going to court even if you’re going to fix a ticket. I was told not to trust mailing your pAperwork because that’s what causes issues which is why I had to go.

It took all morning to get through to the traffic clerk. Due to budget constraints they don’t have anyone answering their phones. They mess up my record and then I suffer.
I finally got through to someone at the traffic clerks office. My trick call in to a different number at the court house and ask to be transferred. The best way is to call a commissioner at the court house.
I a was on the phone for 25 mins. They finally helped me. The dismissed a ticket that they were suppose to 1 year ago. They are sending me a new trial by declaration to complete for another ticket.
Let’s pray and hope that everything is resolved so my driving record can be cleared with the dmv and I can get a refund from my insurance.

This place is such a pain. First off you better watch where you park. Read the signs! The meters can be tricky and the parking enforcement is waiting for you to mess up and be a minute late. They offer a lot for $ 10!
The court lines are always long. They book as many people as they can in the court room and it takes hours sometimes to get to your case. Of course the people with lawyers go first and then the cops. Which is normal in any court room. A lot of people don’t understand the procedure so that adds more time. (Even though they make it pretty clear). The judge Nancy is not very nice so if you get here good luck!
There is also no where to sit when your waiting to go into the court room. Everyone is forced to sit on the floor if you want to sit.
If you get hungry they have a tiny shop with a few choices of food… sandwiches, pastries, chips, pretty much a mini 711. Also there is an ATM. There is also a food truck with coffee. The food truck is pretty limited. Hot dogs, chips, turkey dogs, pretty much just dogs of certain kinds.
It’s actually pretty outside but this court is definitely my least favorite.

FIX IT TICKET? Here’s the quickest way to get through this place!
1. Get there early. The traffic windows open at 7:30, not 8:00. I got there right at 7:45 and there were about 5 people ahead of me. They have 11 windows dedicated to traffic, but most of the window clerks don’t show up until 8 am, and then they aren’t ready to accept people for another 5 — 10 minutes. Only 1 window is open in the beginning. Start here and when they tell you to go to the Sheriff’s Dept for inspection, ask if you have to stand in line again. They should issue you a pass that will allow you to cut to the front of the line. You’ll need it as the line fills up quickly upon return from inspection. Otherwise, you’ll be there for 3 hours.
2. Take the 5 extra minutes to find the inspection station behind the courthouse. Park towards the back of the courthouse because that’s where your car needs to be inspected. If you can park across the street from the inspection location, you might even be able to have them walk there so you don’t have pay for parking twice. In fact, even better would be to have someone come with you and just stay in the car with a copy of the ticket or the ticket itself. They only inspect every half hour, so getting through that first window in half an hour is important. Otherwise, you’ll be there for an extra half hour waiting for inspection. You’ll have to go back in to pay for the Sheriff’s inspection afterwards, and then go back up stairs to pay for the actual ticket.
3. Bring cash. The Sheriff’s dept only accepts Cash or Checks… They have an ATM machine there, but for quickness and not adding a step, have cash on you.
Be nice… dress respectful, flash a smile, and everyone will be extremely nice, from the metal detector officers, to the window clerks, to the inspection officer. It took me just under 2 hours, but if I had known the process, I believe I could’ve gotten through this around 1 — 1.25 hours, as I went to the wrong building initiallly, had to wait extra in line because I wasn’t earlier, had to walk aaaallllll the way back to my car, repark it, etc.
Overall… as far as courthouses go, it was about as good an experience as you could have. And Danny Trejo was there… Mr. Machete himself, who couldn’t be nicer I might add.