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California traffic schools: an endangered species
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According to the California Highway Patrol an estimated 3 million moving violations are issued each year, that’s not even factoring citations issued by local and county law enforcement agencies, each moving violation nets an average fine of $250.00 that’s not factoring court administrative and security fees.
The conviction, once the fine is paid is transmitted to a person’s driving record and if other subsequent citations are received a person’s insurance rates will “rise” between 250-750 dollars a year. So what’s the purpose of Traffic School also known as Traffic Violator School? How many state legislators receive citations? or do they simply show their legislative credentials and are sent on their way.
Currently there are an estimated 350 Traffic Violator schools in California and twice as many online internet schools, which aren’t regulated by The Department of Motor Vehicles. Internet Traffic Schools are stand alone and convenient as “driving ” If a person can read and retain they can easily complete the program in the comfort of their own home and as long as the court gets their money and gets a completion certificate that’s all that matters.
So what's the purpose of traffic school? does it work are drivers actually safer as a result or should they be eliminated all together since they seem to be a low priority here in California's state assembly. Should drivers license registration be tied to attendance at a driving school for a refresher on safe driving practices in order to prepare all drivers for their license renewal exam......There are always benefits to early intervention as opposed to "after the fact" which seems to be the other purpose of traffic school.
If our state legislators had the ability to look outside the box in order to help our licensed drivers stay on the road, through mandatory refresher training and education, as opposed to leaving it to the Department of Motor Vehicles discretion, we might have a safer enviornment to "drive in".
