One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Didn't Pay Your Traffic Tickets? California Has a Half-Off Sale For You!
Illustration by Jason Winter via Shutterstock
California is broke, so if people aren't paying their old traffic tickets, what kind of incentive can the state offer to get them to pony up at least some of the cash? How about a 50% off deal! As we previously reported, the idea behind the state's "Amnesty Program" is to encourage delinquent ticket-holders to pay up at a discount, rather than perhaps not pay up at all.
So who qualifies, and how can they go about getting into the "Amnesty Program"?
- Not all traffic tickets are eligible. The discount can be applied to tickets that are from 2008 and earlier. The discount cannot be applied to parking tickets, reckless driving citations, and DUI citation. Some Juvenile tickets will be eligible.
- Additionally, some infractions that are non-vehicle related are eligible.
- Some tickets will be part of a mandatory amnesty program, some a voluntary program.
- Fines that have been partially paid, including via court-acknowledged payment plans, are also eligible.
- The payment, 50% of the total currently owed, must be made in one lump sum. Payment must be made between January 1 and June 20, 2012.
Each driver or other ticketed Californian could save hundreds of dollars, at the same time, broke-ass California stands to rake in millions.
If you think you may be eligible, you'll want to take a look at the Amnesty Program Guidelines document via the Amnesty Program pageon the California courts site; the Guidelines document includes several examples of ticket and case types with sample cost breakdowns. If you wish to apply for the program, you'll need to submit an affidavit to the courts for approval. the state's court employees begin their Amnesty Program training next week, with sessions scheduled throughout October.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
