The Oppression Of The Lower Class By

The Oppression of the Lower Class by the California

Department of Motor Vehicles

High traffic fees and fines quite often cause financial difficulties for the lower class. Transportation has become a necessity over the past one hundred years. Unfortunately with the constant improvements in vehicle technologies the cost of owning and maintaining a vehicle has constantly increased. Going hand in hand with these vehicle improvements the California Vehicle Code (CVC) has become extensive, covering every possible driving mistake with a traffic infraction. Following these changes the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has constantly grown to cover the needs of the 27 million vehicles (DMV update 1998, 3) owned in the state with high vehicle registration fees and traffic fines.

The problem with these fees and fines is that they cause compounding problems if left unpaid. Running a little late on a registration fee will begin with a 10% increase if 1-10 days late and jump all the way to 60% if 31 days – 1 year late. These are penalties, which target the poor. A financially comfortable licensee will not have the problems of paying a modest fee to the DMV thus, avoiding late fees. Supposing an upper class licensee forgot to pay the resulting penalty would not cause any hardship or their PG&E shut off. (CA DMV, web-site)

Leaving the registration unpaid for a couple of months, the licensee hypothetically gets pulled over and given tickets for driving an unregistered vehicle and speeding. The registration fees continue to compound and the registration goes unpaid. Owing more to the DMV the licensee cannot afford the cost of living and excessive fines. Registration fees get coupled to the fines imposed and before the licensee can get out of the debt he/she receives a notice for a court appearance.

According to CVC 13353.2 a court can order a license suspended for failing to pay fines. With a suspended license, the driver is forced to find another means of transportation to and from work. For some this problem may result in a driver continuing to drive, risking additional citations and larger fines. According to the Law SB 833 by Sen. Quentin Kopp, San Francisco. The “Police can immediately seize and impound a vehicle involved in a traffic accident if the driver is operating the vehicle with a suspended or revoked license.” (NewsBank News File, web-site)

There is another way a driver can lose their license. The DMV keeps a driving record on all drivers with a running point tally, accumulating every moving violation a licensee receives. The points, either one or two are given according to the type of offense committed. Any driver accumulating four points in one year will be considered a negligent operator and may have their license suspended. Six points in two years or eight points in three years results in the same punishment. (CA DMV, web-site)

With escalating fines the hypothetical driver can encounter an even greater problem trying to renew registration and have his/her suspension expunged. In the California Vehicle Code, 14911.

“When a notice of failure to appear or failure to pay a fine is recorded on the department records pursuant to Sections 40509 and 40509.5, the fine and any penalty assessments shall be a lien upon all vehicles of the defendant of a type subject to registration under this code.”

Meaning that for excessive fines the court can order a vehicle confiscated and auctioned in order to expunge the debts a driver has accrued.

Further illustrating the lack of compassion for the poor by the DMV. Foreign immigrants moving into the state of California now have further difficulties acquiring a license. According to an article in the Orange County Register “As of March 1, 1994 DMV clerks will be required to verify the legal presence in this country of first-time applicants for driver’s licenses and state identification cards.” This law will leave immigrants across the state driving without a license or insurance. (Christensen / Legon, b1)

Will the poor advance in economic status or education levels if they are unable to drive to and from work or school because of escalating fees. A neighboring state provides their drivers with very cheap services.

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has many beneficial programs to assist their drivers financially. Registration fees are biannual, and cost the licensee a mere $30.00. Yes, that is only $30.00 every 2 years! Oregon legislation does not require smog checks which saves drivers another $30.00 at the time of registration or sale. ODOT also slashes a traffic infraction fine in half. If, the driver has a clean driving record and pays off the fine by its due date. (Oregon DMV web-site)

The California DMV will inform license holders that they are assisting drivers with tax reductions. They are accomplishing this by informing licensee’s that they are receiving a 25% savings on the vehicle license fee. This 25% saving does not actually apply to the entire bill but only a small section of the bill. These are the same tactics storeowners use to assist a shopper’s decision making process in order to make a purchase. By jacking up the prices/rates, and then marking savings off the price, the consumer believes that they are saving money. I’d propose that the DMV provide us with true savings, not fraudulent lines th