New Parking Ticket Law Protects Drivers
Posted on May 28, 2008
Filed Under Criminal Law, Felonies, Fraud, Law, Los Angeles, News, misdemeanor |
In the grand scheme of things, parking tickets would seem to be a fairly minor annoyance. But in parking-challenged Los Angeles and other California cities, tickets can mount up and quickly move from the realm of little problem to big trouble. The parking ticket issue has gotten more than a bit murky in California. Until recent passage of a new law, private parking enforcement companies “served as judge, jury, and executioner when distributing violations,” charged State Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, the bill’s sponsor. “If a company profits from distributing a greater number of parking infractions, there is no incentive to act justly by allowing for a fair appeals process.”
Numerous California cities and counties contract with private for-profit companies to handle parking enforcement. These companies not only write parking tickets, they provide the hearing officers, hold the trials and enforce fine collection. Many cities offered bonuses for guilty-verdict payments. Until DeVore stepped in, the poor motorist didn’t have a chance. DeVore’s original bill sought to completely prohibit such conflict of interest and restore due process to ticketing procedures. The legislature would only agree to a watered-down version of the bill that prohibits companies from receiving any financial gain based on the number of guilty verdicts obtained. A partial win for motorists.
The potential for abuse will remain as long as private firms control both sides of the parking ticket process. As DeVore warns, “Any system of justice that assumes that people are automatically guilty undermines support for the rule of law.” If you feel you have been the victim of an unfair law, you may need the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Sometimes it’s necessary to stand up for small rights like parking ticket due process to protect greater, more important rights. A knowledgeable attorney can protect you from unfair traffic infractions and misdemeanors.
-LegalPro
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