Report Funded by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation Finds That California Traffic Fines Prey on Poor
Today, more than at any time, California has an opportunity to continue its leadership in building a fair society. So far, it has missed the mark on an issue that significantly affects more than 4 million residents: traffic fines and fees.
California has among the highest traffic fines and fees in the country – and the steepest consequences for traffic violations are reserved for those who can’t afford the fines and fees. This results in crippling debt for the least fortunate Californians, from whom traffic courts have difficulty collecting any fees at all.
According to the Federal Reserve, nearly half of American households cannot afford $400 in unexpected costs. Yet in California, if a family misses a payment on a traffic fine, they can be slapped with a $300 late fee, raising the cost to as much as $500 for a ticket. That can be followed by a suspended driver’s license or jail time, even for non-safety related violations, such as late registration. Of course, this makes it less likely they can pay the fines.
Further, studies have unequivocally concluded that establishing fees or fines based on ability to pay, rather than flat rates, increases collections.
Let’s also talk about fairness. It is well-documented that these sky-high fees and fines fall disproportionately on African Americans and Latinos. They are more likely to be stopped for minor offenses, or for no valid reason. Difficulty paying fines often leads to cycles of debt with lifelong implications. A recent report by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, funded by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, found that Bay Area sheriffs were four to 16 times more likely to book African Americans and Latinos into jail for an offense related to failure to pay traffic fines.