Ark Valley News - Police begin fix-it tix protocol

Police begin fix-it tix protocol
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: January 29, 2015

Here's some good news for drivers who need to replace headlights or taillights on their vehicles.

Valley Center police started a new policy last week that will allow drivers to avoid an expensive ticket if they are cited for defective vehicle equipment, such as headlights, blinkers and taillights.

Under a new fix-it ticket policy, which began Jan. 22, drivers are given a chance to fix the problem, have an officer sign off on the repairs and then get the charge dismissed at City Hall. If drivers don't get that done in time, the fines — and costly court fees — will stick.

"My intent in starting this was to make sure people get their vehicles fixed without having hefty fines for just a simple thing like having a headlight out or something like that," Chief Mark Hephner said. "… I would hate for people to be burdened with that extra expense when it's just a matter of getting something fixed on their car. But if we just give them a warning, we weren't sure they were getting it fixed."

Other police departments have similar procedures for defective equipment citations.

The fine for a defective equipment citation in Valley Center is $30. Municipal court costs are $75.

The system works like this, Hephner explained:

An officer who stops a vehicle for defective equipment has the option of giving a verbal warning or issuing a citation. With the citation, the driver is given a court date. The driver can have the problem repaired and then ask an officer — either by traveling to the police station on East Fifth or by calling 911— to check the equipment. After the officer signs the citation to say the problem has been resolved, the driver can take the ticket to City Hall to have the charge dismissed.

"If it gets ignored and they don't fix it and have the officer check it, it turns into a warrant, just like any other violation," Hephner said.

Hephner said officers in the past had been hesitant to write expensive tickets for equipment problems. But they also knew verbal or written warnings were ineffective because there was no way for police to know whether the vehicle had been repaired without a follow-up system in place.