Senator 'Shocked' By City Traffic Fines - Lawmakers Says Cities Ripping Off State Resources

[Kadie]

Senator 'Shocked' By City Traffic Fines
Lawmakers Says Cities Ripping Off State Resources
POSTED: 6:38 pm PST February 10, 2010
UPDATED: 6:48 pm PST February 10, 2010

ROSEVILLE, Calif. --
A California lawmaker is targeting cities that sidestep state law and discount traffic tickets.

For a minor traffic violation -- such as an incomplete stop or illegal U-turn -- Roseville police officers have the option to give a driver a regular ticket, with fines determined by the state, or a city ticket with much lower fines.

Under the state vehicle code, the tickets should be $200, but under Roseville's code, the fines are $50 to $100 -- and the city keeps all the money instead of sending most of it to the state. Last year, Roseville collected $40,000.

snip...
That's angered state Sen. Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, who's introducing a bill to stop it.

"And I am very disappointed, and actually, I was shocked to learn that they would use this loophole to basically rip off resources that should come to the state," Oropeza said.

snip...
Still, drivers through Roseville said they liked the two-tiered ticketing: It's not only less expensive, but the violations aren't reported to the California Department of Motor Vehicles -- so it's not on your driving record and not reported to your insurance company.

more...
http://www.kcra.com/politics/22528432/detail.html

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. Tickets should be given for safety, not to fill coffers. Glad the cities are issuing the lower

priced tickets

[brewens]

2. If they are city cops why shouldn't they do what their bosses with the city want?

If the state wants to get fines there, send state cops in to do it.

[SheilaT]

3. In my extremely limited experience

with traffic tickets, much of the time you can "plea bargain" them down to a lower -- or maybe just different offense. The one or two I've had, I was allowed to pay a higher fine but nothing went on my driving record.

[lib2DaBone]

4. Gangs fighting over Turf... a numbers racket...

.. in my home town.. last month.. the county issued 21,000 citations from automatic red-light Cams.. to the tune of $1.2 million in fines.

The fines are issued for. 'not coming to a complete stop before turning right at a red light'.

The voters are pissed. The politicians reply? "These cameras are for for the safety of our Children".

It's ALWAYS for "the safety of the fucking children." I'm sure the $1.2 Million in cool quick cash never entered into it the equation.

Someday the voters may get pissed enough.. and our good County Commissioners will find their Red Light Cams smashed to bits in the street...

[frazzled]

7. Those red-light cams can really be a racket

My husband got one in the mail, and I kind of ragged on him for making a traffic violation and costing us $100. He looked at the three shots of his supposed transgression and said, "I don't see what I did wrong." I suggested we go to the web site to see the video ... and lo and behold, it showed NOTHING he did wrong.

So he decided to contest the ticket, went to a court date, and politely told the judge he felt he had been wrongly ticketed. She said let's see about that, and turned to her computer. "Come up here and look at this!" she shouted at my husband. She proceeded to show him what he already knew: there was no evidence that he'd done anything. He's stopped at a red light (you can tell he's stopped because you can see other cars moving), and then he proceeds to make the legal turn on right when traffic is clear. She explained that the state must prove that a violation occurred and they provided no proof. She dismissed the case.

I believe that many of these tickets are sent out and people don't even bother to look. It's easier to send in the $100 than to take the time off to schlep to court.

[Bold Lib]

5. City cop = city ticket.

[customerserviceguy]

6. I cannot recall a headline on an OP

where I was so very disappointed in the story that followed. Wouldn't it be wonderful if some muckety-muck politician (who simply waves a get-out-of-shit-free ID at a cop) actually experienced what ordinary citizens feel from the jackboots, and was outraged by THAT?

All this asshat is upset about is who's getting the shakedown money.

[MindPilot]

8. State law says the cities have to give an ever-increasing revenue stream to the state

There was a law passed in California in the early 90s that says the traffic ticket revenue generated by the cities and passed up to the state has to increase by a certain percentage over the previous year. They don't even try to pretend anymore it's not about the money.

Anyone who still thinks traffic law enforcement has anything to do with public safety is delusional.

[Historic NY]

9. Too funny the state & locals fighting over crumbs at the taxpayers expense.......

do we need a reality check here folks.