Alameda County issuing a “better” traffic ticket
Alameda County Sheriffs have been issuing a different kind of traffic ticket lately.
Instead of traditional California traffic tickets written under California state traffic laws, officers have been issuing “local” traffic tickets under a local ordinance. About half of Alameda County traffic tickets issued are currently issued under local ordinance.
The difference? Typical California state traffic violations carry points, come with relatively high fines that are split between the local county and the state and will appear on a driving record and potentially affect auto insurance rates. These local traffic summonses do not carry points, the fines are generally less, they don’t appear on a driving record and the local county gets to keep all the fine money collected.
The person who gets the traffic ticket wins. Alameda County wins. The losers? Insurance companies which never know these drivers have received tickets and the state of California which loses it’s piece of the fine money collected.
State officials claim this is a loophole that will eventually be closed.
If you have questions about any type of California traffic ticket, please contact an Alameda traffic ticket attorney or other California traffic ticket lawyer.
