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Politics & Government

Got Parking Tickets? The State Plans to Cut that Debt

A new state law offering traffic violators a 50 percent discount on unpaid traffic fines is set to take affect Jan. 1 over the objections of some Los Angeles County supervisors.

A new state law offering traffic violators a 50 percent discount on unpaid traffic fines is unfair, a Los Angeles County supervisor said today in suggesting that the "amnesty" be extended to those who had made partial payments.

SB 857 will take effect Jan. 1. For the six months that follow, motorists who have unpaid traffic fines that date back prior to 2009 can send in just half of what they owe and clear the slate.

Some restrictions apply, including that the violator cannot have any outstanding misdemeanor or felony warrants.

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Another restriction that leaves out anyone who has tried to pay off part of their fine prompted Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky to call for a change in the law.

"California traffic fines are among the highest in the country and have become extremely onerous to our citizens," Yaroslavsky said. "It is only fair that if the state wishes to grant a 50 percent amnesty for those who have made no attempt at payment, then those who have made partial payment should be offered the same discount."

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He asked the Board of Supervisors to send a letter to state court officials asking for the change, which Yaroslavsky said would affect about 75,000 residents.

Supervisor Michael Antonovich abstained from the vote.

"Wrong message," Antonovich said. "All the people in this county who paid their traffic citations and now, basically, we're going to reward those who didn't pay on time."

The county is mandated by the state law to offer the amnesty.

The board voted 4-0 in favor of pushing for the change.

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