Huge Traffic Fine increase in California

mpgandco

mpgandco

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I thought I would share this info.Looks like I will finally have to install Front License plates on all my cars.

State of California is broke and they are trying hard to squeeze all of us hard to collect money.

Effective immediately, if you do not stop at the red light, be ready to pay $436 in fines or if you pass a school bus with flashing red signals, you will be charged $616. The state of California is going for blood, so be extra careful in driving, you cannot afford messing with them. I have been hearing that Highway Patrols are under pressure to issue a lot more tickets than last year with at least 30% increase in fines over 2009, so beware of radar guns, highway and traffic cameras installed everywhere and the tougher enforcement of parking rules.


Just for your info, the next time you park in the handicapped zone, even for a minute, you will be looking at almost $ 1000 in parking tickets , so it'd better be worth it.

California needs money, so pay close attention to the rules of the road!

Traffic Ticket Fines (Effective 01/06/2011)

VC 12814.6 $214 Failure to obey license provisions.

VC 14600(A) $214 Failure to notify DMV of address change within 10 days (Note: The fine may be reduced with valid proof of correction.


VC 16028(A) $796 Failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility (insurance) Note: This fine may be reduced with proof of insurance on or after the violation date.


VC 21453(A) $436 Failure to stop at a red signal.


VC 22349 $214 Unsafe speed, 1 to 15 miles over the limit.

VC 22350 $328 Unsafe speed, 16 to 25 miles over the limit.

VC 22450 $214 Failure to stop at a stop sign.

VC 22454(A) $616 Passing a school bus with flashing red signals.

VC 23123(A) $148 Driving while using a wireless phone not hands free, first offense .

VC 23123(B) $256 Driving while using a wireless phone not hands free, each subsequent offense.

VC 23123.5 $148 Driving while using a wireless device to send, read or write text.

VC 23124 $148 Minor driving while using a wireless phone.

VC 22500 $976 Parking in a bus loading area.

VC 22507(A) $976 Violation of disabled parking provisions, first offense.

VC 22507(B) $1876 Violation of disabled parking provisions, second offense.

VC 26708 $178 Unlawful material on vehicle windows. (Presumably political stuff!)

VC 27150 $178 Adequate muffler required. (Exhaust silencer! Boy racers?)

VC 27315 $148 Mandatory use of seat belts.

VC 27360 $436 Mandatory use of passenger child restraints. Note: This fine may be reduced by completing a court authorized child seat diversion program.

VC 27400 $178 Headsets or Earplugs covering both ears. (Seen that in UK!)

VC 27803 $178 Violation of motorcycle safety helmet requirements.

VC 34506 $616 Commercial Driver - Log book violation.

VC 4000 $256 No evidence of current registration. Note: The fine may be reduced with valid proof of correction.


VC 4159 $178 Notify DMV of change of address within 10 days. Note: The fine may be reduced with valid proof of correction.

VC 5200 $178 Proper display of license plates. Note: The fine may be reduced with valid proof of correction.

VC 9400 $178 Commercial weight fees due
 
Sad to see them hiding in corners, in gas stations, waiting for a gotcha. BTW, I was pulled because one brake light bulb was loose. Wasn't good enough to fix it on the spot, have to do the pay-mail-reinspect dance... When I read the code it seems to be sufficient to have two brake lights doesn't have to be three, was I duped? I had two out of three working.
 
Red Light Cameras...

That said, you if you get caught by a red-light camera in Los Angeles County, you should consider not paying it. Look here for some editorials on the subject:

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/30/local/la-me-red-light-camera-20100930

http://biggovernment.com/lmeyers/20...ed-light-cameras-drain-taxpayers-not-drivers/

The courts are not placing holds on registration or licenses right now for photo-only offenses; the worst you are likely to encounter is a collections agency. Stay aware as traffic cameras everywhere are being challenged in courts.
 
Sun, Surf, and traffic Fines?

Not my vision of California. I'll cetainly think about it when visiting. Thanks for the heads up.

In Houston, we repealed the traffic cameras. Since the City took it upon themselves to contract the cameras with a third party there's a lawsuit now over the legality.

And you guys get popped for insurance points too?
 
Here in Maryland if you let your insurance lapse it can get very expensive. The fine goes up the longer you're not covered; ask me how I know!

However, I can't generate any sympathy for some of the other offenses. Who drives w/o belts, driver's license, or hands free?

And if you pass a stopped flashing light school bus or park in a handicap space you deserve everything you get.

Sorry, I don't mean to be a prick, but most of those fines can be easily avoided.

I have had my own law enforcement encounters re "excessive speed" over the years, but these days average traffic speeds have increased so much here that there is always someone faster than me. Which allows me to drive without attracting unwanted attention!

Best,

Don
 
Grey areas....

Don,

I agree with you, I can also think of instances where a driver gets stuck between the law and sanity….

For instance, I used to drive past a high school every morning on my commute. The road in question was a major artery and probably saw 300 cars per minute in peak traffic. Anyway, the school buses would off-load the students at the curb on the southbound side and flash their lights. For the span of half an hour, there was always at least one bus with its flashing lights on. If anyone HAD decided to stop, they would have been responsible for a major backup, probably onto the freeway or they would have been run over.

Of course, NOBODY stopped and no students had any reason to cross the street. The system was working fine ‘till LAPD started pulling people over, ten cars at a time.

I know -- laws are laws -- but laws aren’t perfect either and selective enforcement sure seems to be picking up. Anecdotally, anyway. :)
 
cptndon said:
However, I can't generate any sympathy for some of the other offenses. Who drives w/o belts, driver's license, or hands free?
Click to expand...

Don, without meaning to offend some of the other board members, many people in my state do just this. We like to "live free or die". Unfortunately for many here the second part happens - when it could be avoided. New Hampshire does not require helmets for motorcyclists or seatbelts in cars (if you're older than eighteen), and cell phones while driving is ok (but not texting). As someone who grew up in Calif. I can't imagine not wearing a helmet or latching a seatbelt. But then, I also lock my doors - which most of my neighbors do not.
 
I believe that the vc26708 may apply to vehicles with tinting film. Not saying that stickers wouldn't also apply
In Calif there can't be any tint other than factory original. The cops go nuts when I come over the state line.
Nevada also has a tint law but couldn't enforce it because all of the Nevada Highway Patrol vehicles were too dark. No sure how long that will stay unenforced.
steve
 
Increased fines--read State extracted revenue

The once great State of California is grasping at every opportunity to extract more dollars from its citizens--non-citizens need not comply.

Now that we are in for a second round of the Governer who set the stage of financial ruin for the State--Jerry Brown--by authorizing Public Employees Unions during his disastrous first term. That one step has so burdened this state with unsustainable costs for unrealistic salaries of bureaucrats, no cost benefit plans, vacations, paid holidays, time off for almost any reason, overtime pay, etc., etc and pensions that cannot be realisically sustained on the backs of the remaining tax-payers. I don't wish to sound so grim on our message board but--as a former professional in the field of benifit and compensation plans, etc.--until these levels of operating costs are brought into reasonable equivalency with the private sector the train is destined to derail--sooner than later--and jacking up fines for vehicular violations are but a tiny patch on the mortal wounds that our Give Away Governor has inflicted upon us.

Oh yes--state supplied cell phones for 1/2 of our state employees are due to be turned in by June--I say why not 100% of them tomorrow!!
 
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In a somewhat related story, here in NJ they no longer inspect cars for safety. It's emissions only.

They used to check shocks, brakes, lights, the works. On my E39 they just plugged into the OBD port and tested the gas cap, that was it.

NJ, btw, has over 50 pages of state law governing safety *at race tracks*. The law says 5 and 6 point harnesses need to be replaced every 2 years. Speed limits in the pits? 15 mph. Seriously.

And while the track is on private property, the state police are present to monitor these things.

It's kinda nice to see some of this regulation unwound, but then again some jackass is going to drive around on bald tires and kill someone.
 
When I am crusing with traffic at 70 with the speed limit at 65, I love it when some
(fill in the blank with your favorite word) flies by in the left lane at 85. I call it sending out scouts. Once in a purple moon the scout will be pulled over getting a safe driving citation.
 
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