Countywide : Amnesty Program May Reduce Fines

Drivers who hold delinquent traffic citations may pay reduced fines and clear their driving records under an amnesty program that will be offered by Ventura County courts from Feb. 1 to April 30.

All traffic citations issued before April 1, 1991--except those for parking, drunk driving and reckless driving--are eligible, said Florence Prushan, assistant executive officer of Ventura County Superior and Municipal courts. “A lot of people don’t take them seriously,” Prushan said. “This is an effort to take care of business with the courts.”

Under the program, scofflaws who failed to pay traffic tickets by April 1, 1991, can reduce infraction fines to $100 and misdemeanor fines to $500. For example, a $1,200 misdemeanor fine would be reduced to $500, Prushan said.

Infractions include speeding or running a red light, and misdemeanors include violations such as hit-and-run incidents, Prushan said.

About 50,000 citations issued in Ventura County are eligible for the program, said Linda Finn, the courts’ deputy executive officer. Of those, about 25% to 50% were issued to county residents, she said.

The state expects to raise $55 million through the program, said Rick Neal, traffic court coordinator in the administrative office of the courts. Ventura County will receive 2% of the revenues that it generates, Prushan said.

For more information, call 654-2611.