Comments on: Repeat traffic school within 18 months

By: brian

brian — Mon, 28 May 2007 22:16:39 +0000

@Matt: the 18 month period is based on citation date, not traffic school date. Your best bet is to write the nice letter, admit your guilt and ask for forgiveness as described above.

By: matt

matt — Fri, 18 May 2007 23:13:56 +0000

You guys are so lucky. I just got my 2nd ticket this year (crossing yellow line in HOV lane) . I hope that I can take TS.
Can I attend traffic school after 18 months for this violation if I can’t take it right now? Thanks

By: brady

brady — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 21:25:10 +0000

Here is the site:
http://www.lasuperiorcourt.org/traffic/trafficSchoolList.asp

By: brady

brady — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 21:23:00 +0000

might wan’t to read this:
Traffic school is a program that allows certain moving violators to receive instruction in driving and traffic safety. A court may refer you to a Traffic Violators program at any time. However, California Vehicle Code Section 1808.7 mandates that only one citation in an eighteen (18) month period be masked from public view on your driving record. The eighteen (18) month period is calculated from citation/violation date, not class attendance date.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 21:25:01 +0000

Hi David,

I have the same situation as yours – two tickers within 18 months. I have attended traffic school for the first one. The San Mateo court says that I am eligible to go TC as well.

Did you go to TC with your 2nd ticket? Did they clear you violation? Please advise! Thanks!

By: brian

brian — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:25:36 +0000

Yes, if you prefer to pay higher premiums on your insurance. If they say ok, go for it!

By: david

david — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 17:12:33 +0000

Calling did confirm I am eligible. I went in person to the window and they were willing to accept my payment + traffic school fee and issue the traffic school paperwork authorizing me to take the class.

Is there any reason not to proceed and take traffic school?

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 17:07:57 +0000

@David: I wouldn’t trust the telephone recording; you’re relying on their systems being fully integrated AND providing you the right information. Two assumptions that in my experience are rarely true with a government agency. If you call and talk to someone, they should be able to confirm that you are not eligible by default. Nothing prevents you from writing the judge as described above and requesting traffic school again.

Remember, they are not obligated to allow you to repeat. If you get two tickets one week apart, I doubt they’ll consider this “an accident”. But with the budget deficits everywhere, the odds of obtaining a reprieve for your average ticket are pretty high and the cost is essentially nil.

By: david

david — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 07:16:14 +0000

I was given a second ticket this year and the telephone recording from the court (San Mateo County) says I’m eligible for traffic school. Thus I could mail in my check and attend – but I’ve taken traffic school within the past 18 months. I think the court system is wrong. If it allows me to take TS, is there any catch to doing so?

By: brian

brian — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:11:53 +0000

Two things – first, you may not always have the right to attend traffic school due to the offense. E.g., reckless driving can’t go to traffic school. Same with certain speeding tickets if you’re over a threshold speed.

Second, there is a new form that the state is sending out that does not include Trial By Written Declaration as an option. In fact, on some forms, it explicitly says Trial By Written Declaration is not accepted. This however, would be a violation of the CVC.

A woman I race with received this form, called the county clerk (this was in the Hayward area) and the clerk told her to write in a third option for Trial By Written Declaration and send it in. If you’re unsure, call the county clerk and confirm. They can NOT deny you the right to Trial By Written Declaration per the vehicle code. You still need to pay when you send in your written declaration like the other options.

This new form seems like a sneaky way to increase revenues to me…