California Code, Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99582

(a) Within 30 calendar days after the mailing or personal delivery of the decision described in subdivision (c) of Section 99581, the person may seek review by filing an appeal to be heard by the superior court where the same shall be heard de novo, except that the contents of the processing agency's file in the case shall be received in evidence.  A copy of the notice of fare evasion or passenger conduct violation shall be admitted into evidence as prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein establishing a rebuttable presumption affecting the burden of producing evidence.  A copy of the notice of appeal shall be served in person or by first-class mail upon the processing agency by the person filing the appeal.  For purposes of computing the 30-calendar-day period, Section 1013 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall be applicable.  A proceeding under this subdivision is a limited civil case.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the fee for filing the notice of appeal shall be as provided inSection 70615 of the Government Code.  The court shall request that the processing agency's file on the case be forwarded to the court, to be received within 15 calendar days of the request.  The court shall notify the appellant of the appearance date by mail or personal delivery.  The court shall retain the fee regardless of the outcome of the appeal.  If the court finds in favor of the appellant, the amount of the filing fee shall be reimbursed to the appellant by the processing agency.  Any deposit of fare evasion or passenger conduct penalty shall be refunded by the processing agency in accordance with the judgment of the court.

(c) The conduct of the appeal under this section is a subordinate judicial duty that may be performed by a commissioner and other subordinate judicial officers at the direction of the presiding judge of the court.

(d) If a notice of appeal of the processing agency's decision described in subdivision (c) of Section 99581 is not filed within the period set forth in subdivision (a), that decision shall be deemed final.