No More Paying to Fight Your Ticket in California
Try fighting a traffic ticket in California, and you may be surprised. If you don’t pay the contested fines first, you will be stuck paying the whole ticket, no matter how you feel about it. That is all changing thanks to a bill that was signed into law last week.
The governor signed 37 bills into law last week, with this measure being one of them. Other bills signed will allow early release from jail for some terminally ill inmates, and one that aims to help homeless youths earn their high school diploma.
The new law for fighting traffic tickets was proposed and signed in response to complaints that the current system is lacking one important thing: due process. People who decide to fight traffic tickets because they cannot afford the hefty fines are being penalized with just that…heavy fines. As court costs build, these people run the risk of having their driver’s license suspended. Once that happens, it makes it more difficult to get to work or school.
It simply did not make sense to be required to pay any type of fine prior to having a hearing to fight a ticket. Thanks to Senator Robert Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), the man who introduced the bill, citizens will be able to fight their tickets without paying a dime. This may mean an increase in appearances in traffic court, but it is certain to make the system a fairer one for all. The law took effect as soon as it was signed.
If you have been arrested for a crime in California, you need an experienced attorney. Our trial attorneys will stand by your side and fight vigorously for your rights in court. If you have any questions as to how we can assist you or are interested in a free case evaluation, please call our offices today.
Stephen Levine, is a Board Certified Specialist in Criminal Defense — an honor achieved by only the top criminal law attorneys in California. Mr. Levine has over 40 years of experience in criminal defense and family law serving Southern California, and is a highly regarded Super Lawyer as well as AV Rated attorney.