Upon getting a traffic ticket in California, you must sign a written promise to appear in traffic court. You promise to appear in court at a certain time and date. Under the now-repealed California Vehicle Code 40509.5 VC, if you violated your written promise to appear (and failed to show up), the traffic court judge, or the clerk of the court, notified the DMV. The DMV then placed a hold on your driver's license. This hold remained on your driver's license until you appeared in court and satisfied any accompanying demands.