California is offering partial financial amnesty for some drivers with unpaid traffic tickets under a limited state amnesty program. Announced this week, the program — authorized by Senate Bill 85, and promoted by CA Governor Jerry Brown’s administration — will allow motorists with outstanding tickets to pay them off at a reduced amount. The fee will be either 50 to 80 percent of the full citation amount, depending on the driver’s income, and will apply to tickets originally due on or before Jan. 1, 2013, officials said.
“We think it is going to have a significant impact for folks who have been pushed to the curb,” said Mike Herald, a legislative advocate for the Western Center on Law & Poverty, who supported the program as a solid first step. “They can get out from under this cloud, get their driver’s license back immediately. They’ll be able to buy auto insurance again. Employers will hire people who don’t have a suspended license.”
