Fix-it Tickets cost increase in CA

[Tongman]

Just in case anybody cares...fix it tickets are now $25 court fees per violation and no longer $10. If you get cited for no front plate and loud/modified exhaust, then that will cost you $50. There is also increases in other violations.

I'm slapping that front plate back on!! Don't wanna be a target, my car stands out too much already.

Originally Posted by Mercury News

The cost of a fix-it ticket — and others — just got quite a bit steeper

By Gary Richards

Mercury News
Posted: 01/29/2009 12:00:00 AM PST

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Got a broken blinker? You'd better get it fixed.

Under a little-noted law that took effect Jan. 1, the cost of a fix-it ticket has nearly tripled, and drivers who are tardy taking care of a burned-out headlight or another mechanical problem could pay as much as $100 for an offense that a few years ago didn't cost a penny.

Lacking the funds to renovate nearly 400 court buildings across California, the state Legislature approved a boost in fix-it fines from $10 to $25 under a bill written by state Sen. Don Perata, D-Oakland.

The bill also raised surcharges on regular traffic tickets by $35, parking tickets by $3 and the court cost to attend traffic school by $25.

The increase in the fine for fix-it tickets — citations issued for a vehicular problem in need of repair — might not seem like much, but other changes in state law have made it potentially much more expensive. Where one such ticket used to cover several violations, the new regulations make each separate violation a $25 fine. So if a cop cites a driver for having a burned-out brake light and broken mirror, the penalty jumps to $50.

Tack on other fees that can be assessed for prior tickets, night court, security and other reasons, and the total bill can easily exceed $100. And if a driver is late in taking care of the problem, you're talking a bill approaching $200.

"This may be a pretty hot topic as soon as people realize how much fees have increased,"
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said Sgt. Don Morrissey of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department.

"I'm shocked, to say the least," said Caroline Chang of Hayward, who has received fix-it tickets for a broken mirror and a brake light that was out because of a faulty fuse.

"I can understand a $10 fee for paperwork, but I'd be really upset, mad and ticked if I had to pay $50 to $100," she said. "That's a lot for a fuse being out."

A fix-it ticket is issued when an officer spots a driver with a problem that needs fixing, such as a broken mirror, faulty seat belt or a horn that won't honk. A ticket is issued requiring the driver to get it fixed within 60 days.

The driver takes care of the problem and goes back to police, who sign a form saying the problem has been fixed. The driver then sends in the notice to the courts and the ticket is dismissed.

There was no fine attached to a fix-it ticket until about a decade ago, when a $10 fee was assessed to cover court costs. But as California's economy worsens, state officials are searching for ways to pay for its growing needs.

"This will go for critical needs at courthouses that need to be renovated or rebuilt quickly," said Philip Carrizosa of the Judicial Council of California, saying it will cover the costs at 41 of about 400 courthouses in need of repairs.

"It's a solution to the state budget problems, by having court users pay these fees," he said. "It's not dependent on the General Fund."

The higher fees are expected to generate nearly $300 million a year, which will pay for preconstruction costs and debt service payments for 41 renovation or construction project approved by the Judicial Council in October. The stiffer fines will also provide $40 million annually for security and safety improvements and building code compliance.

Drivers are not the only ones caught off guard by the new fees. Department of Motor Vehicles spokesman Armando Botello and Highway Patrol spokeswoman Fran Clader both said Wednesday they weren't aware of the new fees.

"My guess is that the initial reaction will be outrage, if they have had to pay only $10 in the past," said Palo Alto Police Sgt. Steve Herrera. "If they have never gotten a fix-it ticket, they might not know the difference. As time goes on, if there was any outrage, it will be forgotten.

"Tough economic times call for these type of increases. If people want the same level of service, we all have to tighten our belts and pay for it."

Contact Gary Richards at grichards@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5335.

# Surcharge on traffic ticket: $35 hike

# Fix-it ticket:
$15 hike per violation

# Parking tickets:
$3 increase

# Traffic school costs:
Up $25

Source: Judicial Council
of California

[av911]

Thank you for the heads-up!!!

[jdm07sisedan!]

f***! cali should just let us mod our cars in peace!!!

[galaxygrey13]

damn that sucks.

[bowline172]

I got a $68 fix it ticket for my taillight tint in florida!! And it was $80 if i didn't fix it...

[Zeuceone]

Oh ****** great. Dumb mother****en *****.

[streetlunatic08]

Lol..

[DNguyensooSIK]

does this only apply to cali residents?

[ShadowFox375]

pretty sure b/c california is in such debt...

[michinsi]

No more modding for me.....

[Tongman]

Yep, Cali residents need to drive stock-looking cars only or you will be profiled and ticketed almost every dam day! I may have to put my stock exhaust back on too. Especially in this economy...I don't want to be forking over my money for renovating court houses!!

BTW, a carpool violation will be over $400!!! Red light violation will be over $400!!!

It is like the government influencing or directing people away from driving...more kick-in-the-nuts to dealerships.

[redbull314]

I thought fix it tickets didn't cost anything as long as you fixed what needed to be fixed. This is lame.

[skunk2civic]

in Louisiana, there are no fix it tickets, it's 168 bucks for modified exhaust. So whenever you see a popo throw it in neutral and coast!

[realxlai]

thats cheap....

its $92 if you get anything that is a "fix it" ticket in virginia.

[nighthawk06Si]

wow that's soo h0mo... front plates going back on now :/
a cell phone ticket cost to like 120+ too. 25 bucks my arse

[Tongman]

Hey...I was looking for my front license plate but it appears that I have misplaced it and can't find it. Does anyone know how much it'll cost me to get a second plate from DMV?

[JZA80CANNONBALLR]

Originally Posted by Zeuceone

Oh ****** great. Dumb mother****en *****.

Couldn't have said it any better...

[BLK N WHT GT]

Originally Posted by bowline172

I got a $68 fix it ticket for my taillight tint in florida!! And it was $80 if i didn't fix it...

LOL! That seems kinda stupid. I'd pay $12 bucks to keep my taillight tint

Originally Posted by DNguyensooSIK

does this only apply to cali residents?

Yeah, this post is just for CA. Who knows if other states had changes for 2009...

Originally Posted by redbull314

I thought fix it tickets didn't cost anything as long as you fixed what needed to be fixed. This is lame.

Technically, they don't cost anything. The $10 (or $25 now) is for court administrative fees.

Originally Posted by realxlai

thats cheap....

its $92 if you get anything that is a "fix it" ticket in virginia.

That's pretty steep. Virginia has always been strict as hell for Vehicle Code. You can't have Radar detectors or anything.. No mods.. Almost as sucky as CA...

Originally Posted by Tongman

Hey...I was looking for my front license plate but it appears that I have misplaced it and can't find it. Does anyone know how much it'll cost me to get a second plate from DMV?

I'm assuming you have a normal sequential plate (eg 1ABC234). They won't make a duplicate of your sequential plate, they will just assign you new sequential plates (in which case you will get 2). It's something like $15 or $17 to get assigned new plates. If you have a personalized plate, it's $30 to get a duplicate of that but you can't get a duplicate if you've lost both plates.

[CarDriver]

Damnit, I was just about to remove my front license plate. Those ----- (I hope to join their ranks or above in a few years, but not act terribly like so many) better start ticketing equally then, because I sure as hell am not happy with the Mercedes, Audis, Lexus, Saleens, and BMWs driving around my town all damn day long every day without front plates, and getting along just fine. Enough of that selective enforcement ****. My town's cops need to re-enroll in some ethics courses . "Oh there's another BMW without a front plate; have a nice day! Uh-oh, but a Honda? Let's get it! Wow this donut is good." How lame is that...

[ImTheVoiceOfGod]

for all