COUNTYWIDE : Some Juveniles Can Skip Traffic Court

Juveniles who are cited for some traffic infractions are no longer required to make court appearances with a parent or guardian unless they wish to dispute the citation, Ventura County court officials said.

The so-called non-mandatory violations include speeding or running a red light as opposed to driving with a revoked or suspended license, which requires a court appearance.

Under the previous system, all juveniles who received traffic tickets were required to appear in the Superior Court’s Juvenile Traffic Court with a parent or guardian.

Now that traffic citations have been transferred from Superior to Municipal Court, juveniles’ citations will be handled the same as adults’, Assistant Court Administrator Vince Ordonez Jr. said.

This means that unless the citation is considered mandatory or the individual wishes to dispute it, the fine may be mailed or paid in person at the Traffic Department, Ordonez said.

“The biggest advantage is that this new system will not inconvenience parents while (at the same time) carrying out the intent of the law,” Ordonez said. “It’s a benefit for parents and juveniles.”