Though more than seven years and four attempts to pass bills aimed at reducing fines for a common red-light traffic violation have passed since state Sen. Jerry Hill first took on the issue, nothing’s stopping him from trying again for the fifth time.
By introducing this week a proposal to reduce the penalty for failing to make a complete stop while turning right at a red light, Hill, D-San Mateo, is hoping the effort will finally make a difference for those facing penalties of more than $500 for making a “California stop” at a right turn.
Acknowledging the safety violation is illegal and should be punished, Hill noted fines related to more dangerous maneuvers, such as driving on a sidewalk or the wrong way on a one-way street, pale in comparison to those levied against those making rolling right turns on red lights. He added that a driver can come to a complete stop at a red light and almost hit a pedestrian or car while proceeding with a right turn — but still only face half the penalty.
“It should fit the crime and it doesn’t,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to correct.”
Hill said an error in a bill passed in 1997 increasing the base fine for these types of violations to $100 from $35 has turned into an opportunity for cities to generate revenue with few obvious gains to public safety. Because surcharges, penalties and other assessments can be added to the base fine, penalties can balloon to levels where they take up a significant portion of a violator’s take-home pay, said Hill.
“It’s a ridiculous bail schedule that is unfair to the driving public and cities are capitalizing on that and filling their pockets,” he said.
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Though San Mateo County sheriff’s spokesman Detective Sal Zuno said local law enforcement officers are always going to follow the law no matter what it is, he doubted drivers are aware of the fines they could incur if they violate the law.
“Generally speaking, drivers are completely unaware of what fines are on violations,” he said, adding that members of the law enforcement will cite drivers based on the violations they observe. “Unfortunately, they don’t know that and neither do we until they go to court.”
Though the bill met the approval of legislators last year, Hill said it got stalled in the Appropriations Committee and died just like bills he proposed in 2015 and 2016, which also did not survive the legislative process. The bill was vetoed by then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger when he introduced it for the first time as an assemblyman in 2010.
Though Hill acknowledged the bill has not been previously successful, he said the unwavering, high volume of calls from residents about the fines has compelled him to continue to taking a stand to reduce fines that should have never been this high.
“That’s why I haven’t let up on this and that’s why I’m going to continue to fight,” he said.
If fines for other infractions are low then raise those fines rather than trying to lower the Red Light fine. And while you are at it raise the Distracted driver fine. If people can not obey they laws I have no sympathy for them. Also start publishing the fines for the various infractions and make sure to include all of the overhead added to those fines.
LOL, the safety violation is illegal and should be punished.. so make the fine less so drivers won't have to pay as much when they are caught the 1% of times they commit the rolling stop. How about bringing drivers ed back to high school, that way kids will learn how to drive from people who actually know how to drive.
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If fines for other infractions are low then raise those fines rather than trying to lower the Red Light fine. And while you are at it raise the Distracted driver fine. If people can not obey they laws I have no sympathy for them. Also start publishing the fines for the various infractions and make sure to include all of the overhead added to those fines.
LOL, the safety violation is illegal and should be punished.. so make the fine less so drivers won't have to pay as much when they are caught the 1% of times they commit the rolling stop. How about bringing drivers ed back to high school, that way kids will learn how to drive from people who actually know how to drive.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.