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California Traffic Tickets Won’t Suspend Licenses

On Behalf of | Jun 29, 2017 | Suspensions

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Traffic tickets will no trigger a license suspension if unpaid, according to a new California law. Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation Tuesday ending the practice of suspending the driver’s licenses of motorists with unpaid traffic fines. Suspensions have not helped collection efforts in the state, and Governor Brown said they can actually send low-income people into a cycle of job losses and more poverty.

Senate Bill 185 was sponsored by Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), who also authored 2015’s traffic ticket amnesty bill.

The new law will not apply retroactively to licenses already suspended, nor would it apply to suspensions for failing to appear in court. It takes effect next month.