A new proposal based on the work of the Commission on the
Future of California’s Court System, seeks to
decriminalize minor traffic offenses by making traffic
infractions a civil violation rather than a criminal violation.
The Futures Traffic Working Group is proposing Judicial
Council-sponsored legislation and is requesting comments on the
proposal.
At the direction of the Chief Justice, the Futures Traffic
Working Group was charged with developing a proposal to implement
and evaluate a civil model for adjudication of minor vehicle
infractions. The proposal
includes recommendations for statutory changes as well as
appropriate standardized processes to free up court and law
enforcement resources and simplify procedures for defendants.
Additionally, the proposal was informed by input from law
enforcement, the Department of Motor Vehicles, organizations
representing the interests of low-income Californians, and other
stakeholders. The working group explored, evaluated, and now
recommends options for online processing of all phases for all
Vehicle Code infraction violations. Lastly, the proposal provides
an alternative to the current system of criminal adjudication of
several million traffic infractions each year.
