It’s a program aggressively being put in place by Governor Jerry Brown, which is part of his annual budget. The new law will permit drivers to reduce their fines between 50%-80%, depending on their income, although the point violations incurred by the tickets can raise insurance rates for the drivers. Drunken-driving & reckless-riving violations aren’t eligible.
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California has come under criticism in recent years for its stiff traffic fines, which include add-on fees and assessments that triple and quadruple the base fines for infractions. It also make drivers who once had their licenses suspended now eligible to apply to have them reinstated. Sure drivers would additionally be capable of apply for installment payments for superior tickets. Courts are allowed to charge motorists a $50 amnesty program fee.
Since 2006, the state has suspended 4.8 million driver’s licenses after motorists failed to pay or appear in court, the Department of Motor Vehicles said earlier this year. In that time, just under 82,000 were reinstated.
The push by Brown highlighted concern among lawmakers and court administrators that California’s justice system is profiting off minorities and low-income residents. “It’s a hellhole of desperation and I think this amnesty can be a very good thing to both bring in money, to give people a chance to kind of pay at a discount”, said Brown last week.
Sen. Robert Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), who introduced the traffic fine bill, told the Los Angeles Times, “The system was broken”.
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The cost can jump to more than $800 once a person fails to meet a deadline to pay or misses a traffic court appearance.
