July 1, 2015 By Wallin & Klarich

A new law allows drivers in California to fight their traffic tickets before being required to pay citation fees and fines. The California Judicial Council recently voted to end “bail for trial” in traffic courts across the state.

Fight Traffic Ticket FinesUntil this action by the Judicial Council, if you received a traffic ticket in most California counties, you were required to pay the ticket fines and fees before you could schedule a court date to contest the ticket. According to the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, the “bail for trial” policy of traffic court violated the rights of Californians and unfairly targeted low-income people.1

Over the last 10 years, the driving privileges of nearly five million Californians were suspended due to unpaid traffic tickets. The fees attached to ticket fines have soared to an average of $500 per ticket. The LA Times reported the cost of running a red light was $489 in 2012, while running a stop sign can cost as much as $237.

California Judicial Council Takes Emergency Action to End Pay to Play Justice System

Judicial policymakers were urged to take emergency action to ensure that all California courts respect due process and do not force people to “pay to play” to be heard in court. The emergency action created a rule of court to make access to the judicial system available to people with traffic fines.2 Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye stated during an April Judicial Council business meeting that the impact of high fees for traffic offenses is a fiscal issue as well as an access to justice issue that must be addressed.3

Unfortunately, the emergency action does nothing to help the multitudes of people who were left without access to the judicial system because of the high fees and fines they were forced to pay before being heard in court. It does not help those who have missed their first court date because they didn’t have money to pay their fines and those who have already had their license suspended due to not paying their fines.4

Call the Traffic Ticket Attorneys at Wallin & Klarich

Traffic Ticket AttorneyIf you want to fight a traffic ticket, you need to know that you don’t need to play the fines before going to court. According to this new law, you can fight your traffic ticket and potentially avoid paying any fees. That is why you need to call the experienced traffic ticket attorneys at Wallin & Klarich immediately if you have been issued a traffic ticket. Our skilled attorneys have been successfully helping our clients fight traffic tickets for over 30 years.

With offices in Orange County, Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, Torrance, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Temecula and Victorville, our knowledgeable traffic ticket attorneys are available to help you no matter where you work or live.

Call our offices today at (888) 280-6839 for a free phone consultation. We will be there when you call.


1. [https://www.aclunc.org/blog/ca-chief-justice-agrees-traffic-courts-can-t-charge-fees-advance-trial ]
2. [http://www.courts.ca.gov/32274.htm]
3. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FbyFD9BI8E]
4. [http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-traffic-fines-20150608-story.html#page=1]

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