House votes to ease traffic fine burden for poor
In a largely bipartisan vote, lawmakers decided to make it less likely people will lose their drivers licenses over the inability to pay a traffic fine.
House lawmakers did the kind of thing Tuesday that politicians like to talk about in their speeches: They reached across the aisle (mostly) to move a bill making life easier on the poor while cutting state workloads.
The bill, HB 1601, proposes requiring Washington courts to offer a payment plan to people who are too poor to pay traffic fines all at once, with the aim of keeping minor offenders out of criminal court. Of the 98 legislators in the House, 73 voted in favor of the measure.
The bill's sponsor, Kirkland Democratic Rep. Roger Goodman, said of those the bill aims to help: "They're not habitual traffic offenders, they weren't driving impaired, they just weren't able to pay the fines."
Poor people, Goodman said, risk falling into a legal trap after even one traffic ticket. Now when they aren't able to pay, Goodman said, their licenses are suspended.
"Then the downward spiral begins," Goodman said, when those same people have to choose between not driving and keeping their jobs. Those who choose to drive to work despite having suspended licenses are then often caught and arrested at some point.
By creating a payment plan, Goodman said, the bill would keep those minor offenders out of the criminal system and save criminal justice resources.
The bill now goes to the Senate, where it must work its way through committees before any final vote.
For exclusive coverage of the state Legislature, check out Crosscut's Olympia 2013 page.
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Comments:
Posted Wed, Mar 13, 12:55 p.m. Inappropriate
Let's hope these 'poor'folk' drivers are fully licenced, insured, legal citizens who have not racked up a boatload of tickets, moving violations, and watered-down plea bargains. Pray that you do not get into a motor vehicle collison with them.
Posted Wed, Mar 13, 1:40 p.m. Inappropriate
In the nearly four decades I've been driving, I've been run into by other motorists five times, twice last year. Every one of them was square in the middle of the middle class. The only time anyone in our family was ever hit by an uninsured driver was my mother, around 1980. At least she had the satisfaction of knowing that her 1975 Ford LTD sedan only suffered cosmetic damage, and the perpetrator's Toyota was totaled. So, at least from personal experience, I don't see much of a threat from the driving poor.
Posted Wed, Mar 13, 2:16 p.m. Inappropriate
From an journalist standpoint, this leaves a little to be desired.
1.Does this create another layer of beauratricy to track this service
2.If so, are there finance charges on the people using this system that pays for the cost
3.If not, is it just another form of tax on all those who can pay on time
4.If tax payers are to foot an additional expense, let’s just say so
This group-hug, it-takes-a-village approach is fine, but can we afford it.
Curious mind wants to know
Posted Thu, Mar 14, 11:24 p.m. Inappropriate
Bad idea. If the poor are already such bad drivers that they need this type of help, imagine how bad they'll become once they realize they get a free pass because of their economic status.
Posted Fri, Mar 15, 7:22 p.m. Inappropriate
Having never had to decide between an essential item like rent or food and paying a traffic fine (and I have had to pay traffic fines), I can't really relate. However, I'm amazed at the negativity here in the comments.
This seems to assume the worst or equate being poor with automatically having a criminal bent. This gives more people the opportunity to do the "right thing" and stay legal. I seriously doubt that most poor people immediately scoff and then drive illegally carefree. Most likely, they agonize and weigh the odds and make a choice based on their perception of risk.
Short of a sliding scale that changes fines based on your income, this bill seems like a great way to collect more outstanding revenue (especially if there's a convenience fee for pay-over-time like any business would charge), and help more people keep on the right side of the law.
I expect that very few actually drive on a suspended license without it constantly nagging them and causing all kinds of heart-racing stress every time they see a police officer.
If this is truly the land of opportunity where everyone has the chance to change their fate and rise up against whatever odds life deals them, we should be celebrating anything that helps people honor their obligations and prevents a mistake (or learning experience) from turning them into criminals.
Posted Sat, Mar 16, 6:56 p.m. Inappropriate
@tvjames, perhaps what would be better would be a fund for people like yourself who could donate $$$ to help poor people pay their fines.
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