Do you by chance have a 4-year-old traffic ticket that you just haven't gotten around to paying? Well, the state has a deal for you.
If you pay it in the next six months, starting today, the state will knock 50 percent off the fine! (Restrictions apply: It's only for tickets prior to 2009. And no deals on DUIs, reckless driving, or parking tickets.)
Why is the state giving scofflaws a break? These are tough economic times for everyone, legislators decided, including government. The law notes the state's fiscal crisis and the economic downturn that has socked many people.
By offering the amnesty, the state figures it could collect millions of dollars in delinquent fines, and local governments could avoid the cost of jailing or dragging these people into court. Courts instead could focus on collecting more recent fines.
That's the reasoning. But it doesn't mean the state is going soft, said Donna Hershkowitz of the state Administrative Office of the Courts: "This is a one-time, don't-expect-this-to-come-around-again thing. People would be mistaken if they thought this was a signal they should stop paying traffic tickets in the future."
Tougher DUI law
The state just got tougher, though, on repeat drunken drivers. A new law gives judges discretion to take a driver's license away for 10 years if the person has been convicted three times for drunken driving in the previous 10 years.
(Previous law also calls for that person to spend 120 days to a year in jail.)
Rep. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, proposed the 10-year revocation idea after he read about two CHP officers who were at a Starbucks and saw a drunken driver stagger in. They arrested him, ran a computer check, and discovered he had eight prior DUI convictions, but had managed to get his license back.
Sorry kids, booster up!
Here's a new law guaranteed to upset 6- and 7-year-olds. Until yesterday, children older than 6 were allowed to use regular seatbelts. Now, all kids under age 8 must be in booster seats. State officials said 6- and 7-year-olds are too small to safely use regular belts. There's one exception: if a child under 8 is 4-foot-9 or taller. We're told for that to happen, though, mom would probably be in the WNBA and dad on the Kings.
Safe-driving resolutions
New Year's Eve is over, but there will be more parties, and state safety officials have a suggestion for the moment the party is breaking up. Don't ask: "Are you OK to drive?" Instead, tell your unsteady friend you're arranging to get him home safely.
And if your kids are headed out to an event: Consider telling them you'll be sober and happy to pick them up, no questions asked.
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Call The Bee's Tony Bizjak, (916) 321-1059.
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