Drivers can’t be required to pay traffic fines before they can contest their tickets, California court leaders decided Monday.

The Judicial Council, in a meeting held via teleconference, abolished the practice in a unanimous vote. The rule will take effect immediately, but courts have until Sept. 15 to comply with the change.

Monday’s vote comes as Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed amnesty for residents who can’t afford traffic fines and penalties.

“This is an historic meeting,” California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye said. “This is an important first step to address an urgent access-to-justice issue. More work lies ahead.”

Some courts require so-called bail payments before motorists can appear in traffic court.

Riverside County Superior Court currently requires motorists to pay the fine when contesting a traffic ticket. However, drivers are given the option of going to court and asking a judge to forgo having to pay the fine before trial, said spokeswoman Marita Ford.

Under the new rule, motorists will be able to sign a promise-to-appear form when they plead not guilty and can’t afford to pay the fine upfront, according to Ford.

“We’re going to make sure we fully comply with the rule by Sept. 15,” Ford said.

The court’s website and written materials will be updated so people know all their options, she added.

San Bernardino County Superior Court is already doing what the new rule requires, said Presiding Judge Marsha Slough.

People who get tickets and sign a promise to appear can make their case in court without posting full bail, she said.

If they fail to appear on time, however, they may have to post full bail before trial, she said.

Slough said the court’s website will be reviewed and clarified regarding traffic citations.

“The website says that if you win your trial, your bail will be returned,” she said. “That implies that you had to post bail to get a trial. That sentence will be deleted to make it clear that if you show up on the date you promise, you won’t have to post bail.”

Slough called the new rule “a small step in a very positive direction,” but said there are much larger issues that must be dealt with.

Besides the base fine for a speeding ticket, there are 37 fees and “add ons” enacted by state lawmakers that substantially increase the amount motorists must pay, she said.

In addition, drivers who are found guilty of traffic violations and fall behind on payments can have holds placed on their licenses until the full fine is paid, Slough said.

“These are issues that can impact the poorest of our citizens,” she said. “We need to work with the legislative and executive branches on some of the larger fixes to address the overarching problem.”

Cantil-Sakauye, the chief justice, appointed a Futures Commission last year to improve the the judicial branch. The group is taking a broader look at effective public access to California’s courts, including traffic proceedings.

“The chief justice is committed to working toward solutions to this important issue,” Slough said.

The Associated Press

contributed to this report.

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