is it reported a) the same day or shortly thereafter it's issued or b)  only after you pay the fine or go to court and plead guility or no contest?  

I went to court yesterday on a traffic violation, pleaded guilty but got a Prayer for Judgement, which is basically you're guilty but dont get any drivers license or insurance points if you stay clean for the next 3 years, but the court lost the original citation and it's not in their computer tracking system.  Thinking I could of just walked out but knowing the courts, they'd probably give me a failure to appear or something.  

Now if the citation never gets found and put in their system I'm probably off scott free  unless it's already recorded to the DMV.

Just wondering

It wont be on your record until you either pay the fine or lose in court.

Quoted: It wont be on your record until you either pay the fine or lose in court.

cool, I couldn't pay the fine cause they had no record of it  I covered my bases, got the Prayer for Judgement, hoping it never gets in their system!