Obama's America
2021-09-15 21:25:25 UTC
SACRAMENTO, Calif. California is instituting an amnesty
program for residents who can't afford to pay off spiraling
traffic fines and court fees that have led to millions of
driver's licenses being suspended.
The program pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown and adopted as part of
his annual budget goes into effect Thursday and runs through
March 31, 2017.
Under the plan, drivers with lesser infractions would pay either
50 or 80 percent of what they owe, depending on income. Certain
drivers would also be able to apply for installment payments for
outstanding tickets. Drunken-driving and reckless-riving
violations are not eligible.
Civil assessment fees would be waived for some tickets.
Residents who have had their licenses revoked would be able to
apply to have them reinstated.
Only violations due to be paid before Jan. 1, 2013, are eligible
for discounts.
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. Of those,
only about 83,000 licenses were reinstated.
When he announced the program in May, Brown called the traffic
court system a "hellhole of desperation" for the poor.
The push by the Democratic governor highlighted concern among
lawmakers and court administrators that California's justice
system is profiting off minorities and low-income residents.
Traffic fines have been skyrocketing in the state, and courts
have grown reliant on fees as a result of budget cuts during the
recession.
Twenty years ago, the fine for running a red light was $103.
Today, it costs as much as $490 as the state has established add-
on fees to support everything from court construction to
emergency medical air transportation. The cost can jump to over
$800 once a person fails to pay or misses a traffic court
appearance.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/09/30/us/ap-us-traffic-fine-
amnesty.html?_r=0
program for residents who can't afford to pay off spiraling
traffic fines and court fees that have led to millions of
driver's licenses being suspended.
The program pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown and adopted as part of
his annual budget goes into effect Thursday and runs through
March 31, 2017.
Under the plan, drivers with lesser infractions would pay either
50 or 80 percent of what they owe, depending on income. Certain
drivers would also be able to apply for installment payments for
outstanding tickets. Drunken-driving and reckless-riving
violations are not eligible.
Civil assessment fees would be waived for some tickets.
Residents who have had their licenses revoked would be able to
apply to have them reinstated.
Only violations due to be paid before Jan. 1, 2013, are eligible
for discounts.
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. Of those,
only about 83,000 licenses were reinstated.
When he announced the program in May, Brown called the traffic
court system a "hellhole of desperation" for the poor.
The push by the Democratic governor highlighted concern among
lawmakers and court administrators that California's justice
system is profiting off minorities and low-income residents.
Traffic fines have been skyrocketing in the state, and courts
have grown reliant on fees as a result of budget cuts during the
recession.
Twenty years ago, the fine for running a red light was $103.
Today, it costs as much as $490 as the state has established add-
on fees to support everything from court construction to
emergency medical air transportation. The cost can jump to over
$800 once a person fails to pay or misses a traffic court
appearance.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/09/30/us/ap-us-traffic-fine-
amnesty.html?_r=0