[ilbegone]

Fees and penalties drive traffic ticket costs through the roof

BY STEVE E. SWENSON, Californian staff writer
Oct 21 2009

Oct 21 2009



People who get traffic tickets -- and let's face it, you're probably one of them -- get told at some point how much they will cost.

A lot of people believe the cost is their fine.

No. A thousand times no.

The fine is the easy part. And much cheaper.

The expensive part is the penalty assessments and fees. If you're lucky they just triple the fine.

If not, they can shoot up the cost to four, five, or more than six times the base fine.

Cayla Stamper, 21, and her friend, Joseph Nelson, 25, were feeling the economic wallop this week.

Stamper was surprised to learn the actual fine part of her $485 ticket for driving on a suspended license was only $100.

"I just thought it was that much for the fine," she said of the total amount. "I would have rather paid the $100, honestly."

Nelson says he's somewhat of a veteran in the ticket business. "Since I turned 16, I've had to pay about $7,000 for tickets," he said.

It's impacted his ability to get jobs because he either doesn't have a license or his car is in impound. "It's kind of like a big trap," he said. "But it's all my mistakes. I can't blame anyone else."

Frank Flores, 19, suffered his first ticket for going 32 mph in a 25 mph school zone. He didn't show up when he should have. The cost zoomed up to $800 and could have been worse.

He just finished his last payment this week. "I just can't believe they can charge you the extra amounts," he said.

But it is having an effect on his driving. "I'm doing a bit better now," he said.

So what are these fines, fees and penalties?

Each ticket has three parts. The fine goes to the local jurisdiction, city or county, which issued the ticket. The fees are flat rates that go to the county. And the penalties are calculated based on the fine.

PENALTIES

Generally about 70 percent of the penalties collected goes to the state, while 30 percent goes to local government, McNally said. For every $10 in fine, you will pay another $26 in penalties.

Those penalties go into various funds, including some that target money for DNA or court facilities.

FEES

Besides the fine, each ticket in Kern County has two or three fees.

A court security fee of $30 pays primarily for bailiffs and guards to keep the court house safe, McNally said.

A $35 criminal conviction assessment goes to the state to finance court construction costs.

A night court fee of $1 is charged only in the downtown Bakersfield courts to help with the expenses of holding night court.

Nelson, whose contributed $7,000 to the system, was philosophical about it all. "They got to do what they got to do to keep it going."

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Here's some typical ticket situations:

* Cell phone violation has a $20 base fine but a $138 out of pocket grab.

* Speeding 60 mph in a 45 mph has a $25 base fine. But the total cost jumps up to $169.

* Driving with an expired license of less than a year. A $35 fine and $205 total bill.

* Speeding in a 65 mph zone. If cited for 81 to 90 mph, the $50 base fine balloons to $246. If cited for 91 mph or more, the $100 base fine become a $426 cost.

* Camera red light violation is another $100 base fine with a $426 price tag.