California Drivers Will Now Get A Break On Unpaid Traffic Tickets

This system pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown & adopted as part of his annual yearly price anger goes in to impact Thurs. 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. It’s noted, however, that DUI violations are ineligible.

Motorists interested in applying should contact the Superior Court in the jurisdiction where they received their ticket. Civil assessment fees can be waived for a few tickets. Earlier yesterday (Sept. 30, 2015) the California Legislature enacted Senate Bill 85 which allows anyone who had an infraction ticket that was due for payment on or before January 1, 2013 the ability to receive as much as 80 percent off of that fine as well the option to pay for it in full or enroll in a payment plan.

ABC 10 News reports that the amnesty traffic program is for residents who can’t afford traffic fines and court fees that have resulted in millions of driver’s licenses being revoked. Of those, only about 83,000 licenses were reinstated.

Since 2006, the state has suspended 4.8 million driver’s licenses after motorists failed to pay or appear in court, the DMV said this year.

When he announced the program in May, Brown called the traffic court system a “hellhole of desperation” for the poor. Governor Brown has accused California courts of gouging low-income drivers with sky-rocketing fines.

Traffic fines have been skyrocketing in the state.

The cost can jump to more than $800 once a person fails to meet a deadline to pay or misses a traffic court appearance.