Q: Just wondering what type of things people would go to Traffic Court for: Is it just to fight a ticket? Or can I request community service to pay off my fine there? Does the judge ever give fine reductions?
A: Yes, yes and yes.
Sonoma County Superior Court Commissioner Carla Bonilla, who’s been handling Traffic Court here for about five years, said people come to Traffic Court for various reasons, from hoping for community service, to seeking a reduced fine, to wanting to complain about the officer’s behavior (she says that’s really a departmental issue, not the court’s) to just wanting to explain what happened or to vent.
She said if the violation isn’t serious enough for traffic school or if the driver wants to take the point(s) on their record and not go to traffic school, she’s often willing to consider community service.
And she said she has reduced fines but noted it’s on a case-by-case basis.
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Here’s an intriguing Q&A item from Gary Richards’ column in the San Jose Mercury News:
Q: I got a very interesting letter from the DMV on May 14 which said: “The state of Vermont will not clear your driving record due to an outstanding action in that state…. Please be aware that until you clear your driving record with the state of Vermont, your name will remain on the National Driver Registry and the Problem Driver Pointer System.” I didn’t own a car in Vermont, so the only thing I can think of is that I got a hitchhiking ticket with my boyfriend on the highway 28 years ago, when I last lived in Vermont. Perhaps I did not pay it.
A: Since October 2007, federal regulations have required the Department of Motor Vehicles to verify through the National Driver Registry (NDR) and the Problem Driver Pointer System any driver’s license application. The National Driver Registry is a nationwide database of drivers who have had citations or actions on their driving record that must be cleared by that jurisdiction before a driver’s license can be issued. California and other states use the NDR to avoid issuing licenses to problem drivers. Before October 2007, only original noncommercial driver licenses were checked through the NDR.
Federal regulations now require all applications (original, renewal, duplicates, corrections, etc.) to be verified through the NDR.
The California DMV reviewed your record and found that you have a “failure to pay” citation in Vermont for $71 since Oct. 22, 1982. But because the action was over 10 years old, the state cleared you to drive and renewed your license but also sent you a letter. Your name will remain on the NDR until the Vermont ticket is cleared. Vermont says you paid the ticket, but failed to appear in court. The $71 is the late fee.
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If you have a question, send it to Attn: Road Warrior via jim.fremgen@pressdemocrat.com
