An Alabama judge recently told a courtroom full of people who owed traffic ticket fines they could either donate blood or go to jail. A similar drama is played out almost every day in Bishop and Independence, albeit in much less dramatic fashion.

There is a difference between people who have the money to pay a fine and refuse to do so, and those who do not pay because they lack the means to do so. When it comes to traffic tickets, especially in a jurisdiction like California, the latter scenario is often the case. One speeding ticket and one missed deadline can add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars in fees. As a result, the person’s license is suspended. That inability to drive often triggers job loss, leading to financial disaster and “tin-pot demagogues” like the Alabama judge.

According to one study, California has suspended four million drivers’ licenses in recent years, mostly due to a failure to pay fines and fees.

Penalty Assessments

The simple fact is that some people cannot afford to pay the full face value of a traffic ticket in Inyo County, because the direct costs alone are the equivalent of a week’s pay. This figure does not include the higher insurance rates and other indirect costs that are normally much more than the cost of the ticket.

There are a number of ways that an attorney can get the excessive fines and penalty assessments reduced. Some of those ways involve negotiation while others involve defenses to the charge. Talk to one our attorneys to see what we can do for you.

Getting Legal Help

The aggressive lawyers at Bigger & Harman, APC, are committed to giving individuals a voice when dealing with speeding and traffic tickets. Call today at 661-859-1177 or email attorney@markbigger.com to receive the personal professional attention you deserve. En español, llame al 661-376-0214.