SAN FRANCISCO (KRON/AP) — California court officials on Monday voted unanimously to ban county courts from requiring motorists to pay traffic fines before they can contest their tickets.
The Judicial Council, the governing body for California’s court system adopted the rule which takes effect immediately.
Many courts including San Francisco and Los Angeles, do not require so-called bail payments before motorists can appear in traffic court.
But in April, the American Civil Liberties Union sent letters to eight Northern and Central California counties where it found the practice was stated on the counties’ websites. Those counties included Fresno, Tulare, Shasta, and Santa Barbara.
The ACLU said a court appearance is a right that should not be contingent on a person’s ability to pay.
A routine traffic ticket in California now costs approximately $500, and that amount can drastically increase when deadlines are missed.
Monday’s vote comes as Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed amnesty for residents who can’t afford traffic fines and penalties.