You were in a car accident in the City of Los Angeles and the insurance company is now requesting a copy of the traffic collision report (TCR). How do you get one? Further, what does it show? You can get a traffic collision report from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) by either requesting one …
Not anymore. A new state law in California was passed in 2017 that forbids the DMV from suspending your driver’s license solely for unpaid traffic tickets. However, it can suspend your license for a criminal offense of willfully failing to appear in traffic court for those tickets. When can unpaid traffic tickets lead to a …
Infractions vs Misdemeanors: What's the Difference?Watch this video on YouTube Infractions and misdemeanors are both offenses in the California criminal justice system. The main difference between the two is in their severity and in how they get punished. Infractions are less serious offenses than misdemeanors. They are punishable by a maximum fine of $250 (though certain …
California drivers with a suspended license have to wait for the suspension period to end. Then they have to apply for reinstatement with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This includes paying license reinstatement fees and proving proof of adequate car insurance. Some drivers may also have to provide evidence of completing certain courses, like traffic …
In California, the term “financial responsibility law” refers to the requirement that you carry proof of your ability to cover damages you may inflict in the event of a traffic accident. This usually means proof of auto insurance. The law is largely found in Vehicle Code Sections 1600-16078 VC and is sometimes called “California’s Compulsory Financial Responsibility …
You were just cited for speeding on a rural California road by a CHP officer. Can this be right? Isn’t the CHP just responsible for overseeing California’s major highways? The California Highway Patrol can generally exercise its law enforcement authority anywhere in the State of California. The CHP has primary patrol jurisdiction over the following: …
You were recently cited for reckless driving by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). You now want to contest the ticket. The CHP officer that cited you said he caught you on the patrol car’s Mobile Video Audio Recording System (MVARS). Can you get a copy of the MVARS video? Most likely, yes. MVARS footage is …
Although this difference seems obvious, people often mistake the non-criminal infraction of driving without a license in one’s possession for the more serious misdemeanor offense of driving without a valid license. 1. What is the law under Vehicle Code 12951? California Vehicle Code 12951 penalizes driving without a license in your possession.1 As previously stated, …
At the moment, California courts haven’t yet made up their minds about the answer to this question. Proposition 47, passed by California voters in 2014, provided that theft of property worth less than nine hundred fifty dollars ($950) would be a California misdemeanor for most defendants. (Prior to Prop 47’s passage, all theft of motor …
