California is poised this year to make changes to 'hidden court fees,' hundreds of dollars often tacked onto traffic tickets and minor violations that can increase their cost nearly tenfold. But so far, state officials disagree on how far to go.
A $300 maximum fine can be added for violations as minor as jaywalking and on tickets that originally cost as little as $35.California is poised this year to make changes to what some call hidden court fees, hundreds of dollars often tacked onto traffic tickets and minor violations that can increase their cost nearly tenfold. But so far, state officials disagree on how far to go.
California has one of the highest late fees in the nation, the coalition says. The group says the fees trap low-income Californians in a cycle of ballooning debt with the courts. In January, advocates sued San Mateo County Superior Court challenging its practice of automatically charging the $300 maximum fee in all traffic cases with a missed deadline.
The Judicial Council, which governs the court system, has supported making changes to civil assessments. In a 2017 report, a commission of courts officials recommended limiting the use of civil assessments or letting fines be converted to community service. Last year, a bill to eliminate civil assessments passed the state Senate but was gutted in the Assembly. The Debt Free Justice coalition said at the time it couldn’t get Newsom to agree to a deal to eliminate the fees.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
California may chop late fees that add hundreds of dollars to traffic ticketsCalifornia is poised this year to make changes to what some call 'hidden' court fees, hundreds of dollars often tacked onto traffic tickets and minor violations that can increase their cost nearly tenfold.
Read more »
40 years of celebrating Asian and Asian American films in San Francisco - The San Francisco Examiner“Free Chol Soo Lee,” the opening night feature of CAAMFest40, tells the story of a Korean American death row inmate convicted of a 1973 Chinatown gangland murder in San Francisco, and the activists who led a pan-Asian American movement to free him.
Read more »
Sally Schmitt, grand dame of California cuisine, left behind cooking instructions - The San Francisco ExaminerSally Schmitt’s new cookbook and memoir, “Six California Kitchens,' is the story of a self-taught chef, wife, mother, entrepreneur and teacher. It gives her humble due as a pioneer of farm-to-table cuisine and one of the country’s trailblazing chefs.
Read more »
Across California State University, mask mandates lift and feelings of safety plummet - The San Francisco ExaminerEach of the system’s 23 campuses implements COVID-19 safety measures based on their communities’ needs. San Francisco State still enforces a mask mandate where the campus is peppered with signs reminding students and faculty to wear masks indoors.
Read more »
Three California primaries to watch this election - The San Francisco ExaminerElection Day is officially June 7, but since every registered voter is getting a mail-in ballot again this year, voting essentially starts now. Here are some statewide races to watch ⬇️
Read more »