LAKE COUNTY — An upcoming traffic amnesty program will benefit drivers with outstanding tickets.
The California Legislature in early September passed Assembly Bill 1358, requiring all counties to implement a one-time amnesty period that allows a lump sum payment of 50 percent of the outstanding balance on certain traffic tickets to fully satisfy court-ordered obligations.
The program aims to provide relief to those who have found themselves in violation of a court-ordered obligation because they are financially unable to pay traffic bail or fines.
It would also increase revenues to the courts when revenue is scarce and allow counties and courts to resolve older delinquent cases and focus resources on collecting on more recent cases.
Only those with traffic tickets due to be paid before Jan. 1, 2009 are eligible. Parking tickets, driving under the influence and reckless driving cases are not eligible.
Other requirements for people to qualify include: failure to appear in court or failure to pay in full; last payment date was on or before Jan. 1, 2009; do not owe restitution to a victim on any case in the county where the traffic case was filed; and have no outstanding misdemeanor or felony warrants in the county where the case was filed.
The program begins Jan. 1 and runs through June 30 at county superior court branches. Payments may be made by cash or credit card at Lake County Superior Court branches in Lakeport or Clearlake. If those who qualify want to pay by check or money order, send payment by mail to the court branch, writing the case number on the check or money order.
