Californians will now be allowed to challenge most routine traffic tickets in court without having to first pay the contested fines.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Wednesday a measure passed by the Legislature in response to widespread complaints about escalating fines and a lack of due process for those with such tickets.
“The system was broken,” said Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), who introduced the bill. “Is it reasonable or fair to require the poor to pay a huge fine before getting a hearing? I say no, and I’m grateful the governor agreed.”
“By allowing people to have their day in court without having to pay the ticket first, fewer people will get their license suspended and end up in dire straits,” said Mike Herald of the Western Center on Law and Poverty, which asked for Hertzberg’s bill.
