Amnesty Program for traffic infractions open from October 1 through March 2017

It’s a program aggressively being put in place by Governor Jerry Brown, which is part of his annual budget. The discounts are either 50 percent or 80 percent, depending on the driver’s income, according to a statement from the California Superior Courts.

Almost five million Californians have lost their driver’s licenses because they were unable to pay a ticket.

Under the amnesty program, eligible participants will not have to pay any civil assessments and may get their suspended driver’s licenses reinstated if they are in good standing on a payment plan with a comprehensive collection program.

The push by Brown highlighted concern among lawmakers and court administrators that California’s justice system is profiting off minorities and low-income residents.

Over 4.8 million driver’s licenses have been suspended since 2006 due to motorists failing to pay the fees or appear in court. In that time, just under 82,000 were reinstated. Drunken-driving and reckless-driving violations are not eligible. Certain drivers would also be able to apply for installment payments for outstanding tickets.

Hylen, accompanied to the courthouse by friend Steven Carey, said she went to the court collections office on the first floor of the courthouse to make a payment on her debt, not knowing anything about the amnesty program. 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.

Before contacting the court, members of the public are urged to review the California Courts’ web page on the Amnesty Program.

The amnesty program begins October 1st and will run through to March 31, 2017.