HomeMy Public PortalAbout97-093 (06-17-97)RESOLUTION NO. 97-93
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LYNWOOD SUPPORTING THE CITY OF COMPTON'S
SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION TO REDUCE TRAFFIC WARRANT FINES
WHEREAS, traffic warrant fines are imposed when a member of the community fails to
appeaz as promised on a traffic ticket; and
' WHEREAS, seat belt tickets that go to warrant aze $416.00, and a ticket with more than
one violation that goes to warrant can exceed $1,000.00, even when the original charges could
have been dismissed upon proof of correction; and
WHEREAS, the average warrant is between $600.00 and $750.00; and
WHEREAS, an additional cost of $35.00 has been added to the warrant of those who are
too poor to pay the fine at once, and therefore request to pay fines in installments; and
WHEREAS, community service is often not offered; and
WHEREAS, when community service is provided as an option, the payment rate of $5.00
per hour for citizens motorists is less than half the rate afforded to a convicted criminal, who aze
paid $ ll.00 per hour, because motorist's hours aze based on the total fine and penalty, whereas,
the convicted criminal's hours are based on only the fine and not the penalty assessments; and
WHEREAS, exorbitant fines and community service hours for traffic warrants take
mothers and father away from the home, where they should be at home nurturing the next
generation; and
, WHEREAS, the legislature passed a law in 1994 that provides for the impoundment of
vehicles driven by motorists whose licenses have been suspended for Failure to appear and pay
warrant fines; and
WHEREAS, many of the community's automobiles and means of transportation to and
from employment are being taken away because drivers can't afford to pay confiscatory warrant
fines; and
WHEREAS, automobiles are usually impounded for thirty (30) days at an average cost of
$800.00, which must be paid in addition to warrant fines and financial burden that can be
devastating to a low and middle income family; and
WHEREAS, many jobs require a valid California Driver's License, and therefore warrant
fines serve as a barrier to employment, especially for minority young men, who are
disproportionately cited, and whose citations most ofren go to warrant; and
WHEREAS, passage of legislation is required to address the problems of exorbitant
warrant fines, inadequate and unfair community service compensation and the overall impacts of
warrant fines.
' NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD, CALIFORNIA,
DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
e f n 1 That the City of Lynwood hereUy supports the City of Compton's support of
legislation to amend current laws pertaining to traffic warrant fines, warrant civil assessments
and penalties as follows:
a) A reduction in the maximum total warrant chazges to an amount not to exceed
$100.00.
b) Elimination of requirements of automobile impoundment for outstanding
traFfic warrants.
c) Mandatory provision of a community service alternative to the payment of
traffic fines.
d) Provisions of community service compensation based on traffic fines and not
penalties.
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Section 2• That the City's State Legislative advocate shall be directed to seek and
support said legislation if the State Legislative advocate services are still available.
e) An increase in the compensation for community service for traffic defendants,
at a minimum, to the amount of $11.00 per hour, the rate afforded to convicted
criminals.
Section 3• That a certified copy of this Resolution shall be mailed to each of the City's
State Legislative Representatives.
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this llth day of June 1997.
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ATTEST:
~~~~- a~ ~~4~
ANDREA L. HOOPER, City Clerk
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PAUL H. RICHARDS II, a
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FAU IN GO LES
City Manager
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APPROVED AS TO FORM:
~-Isl~.~.:. 3. I~..I..~.~._
City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA 1
1 ss
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES 1
I, the undersigned, City Clerk of the City af Lynwood, do hereby certify
that the above and foregoing resolution was duly adopted by the City Council of
said City at a regular meeting thereof held in the City Hall of said City on the day
June 17. , 1997, and passed by the following
vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBER BYRD, HENNING, REA, RICHARDS
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
~ 1 F=~ d
City Clerk, City of Lynwood
STATE OF CALIFORNIA 1
~ ss.
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES 1
I, the undersigned City Clerk of the City of Lynwood, and Clerk of the City
council of said City, do hereby certify that the above and forgoing is a full, true and
correct copy of Resolution No. _ 97-93
on file in my office and that said resolution was adopted on the date and by the
vote therein stated.
Dated this 17th day of June ,
1997
01 , ~,~.11~~
City Clerk, City of Lynwood ~