Fix-It Tickets Used for Minor Infractions

Dear Traffic Talk:

While there are many traffic laws broken that require the attention of the California Highway Patrol and local police, I would like to point out one that is likely overlooked:

I see so many vehicles without a front license plate.

Again, I realize this infraction, which is probably not easily detected, must be a lower priority for law enforcement. Still, most of us obey the law and have both front and rear plates.

It bothers me that this practice is getting to be more widespread.

Stuart Ray

Glendale

Dear Stuart:

The California Vehicle Code states that two license plates are required when two plates are issued--which is the case with most motor vehicles, except motorcycles.

At any given time, a number of drivers have vehicles on the road that lack the front or even the back plate, according to Officer Rob Lund of the California Highway Patrol.

The department does not consider enforcing that law a high priority, Lund said. However, officers have a degree of discretion and many go by the book on even the smallest infractions.

Often, when lacking a license plate is the only violation, officers will give a fix-it ticket, Lund said. Except for a processing fee, the actual price of the citation in those cases is waved if the person fixes the problem within a given period of time.

Otherwise, drivers can face citations beginning at $76.

Penalties increase depending on variables, including whether the motorist has been cited previously for the same violation.

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Dear Traffic Talk:

I live on one of the winding one-lane roads south of Ventura Boulevard.

Cars come screaming down an intersecting street and around the corners.

Whom does one contact about placing speed bumps at the two most offensive areas? The bumps would force cars to slow down and watch for oncoming traffic.

Susan Wolk

Tarzana

Dear Susan:

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation’s 2-year-old program aims to install speed humps where necessary in residential neighborhoods throughout the city, according to authorities.

Residents who think a speeding problem exists in their neighborhood may contact the department for information explaining the process of obtaining the humps.

The criteria include a requirement that 75% of the frontage property owners on a given block sign a petition favoring the humps.

Engineers will then inspect the locations and verify, among other things, that a speeding problem exists.

To have their streets considered for humps next year, residents need to submit their petitions by Oct. 31, said Edward Yu, the engineer in charge of the program.

All locations within each council district will be ranked in the spring and two will be selected, Yu said. Leftover candidates will be reconsidered later.

Residents can also pay for the humps themselves, Yu said. The humps are ordinarily installed in sets of three; each hump costs $2,000.

More information about the program is available by calling Yu at (213) 580-5214.

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