Traffic School: One Way Only?

Orange County should loosen the reins on errant motorists and let them choose from a variety of traffic schools. Why should freedom of choice in the matter be limited to residents of neighboring counties or to Orange County denizens who get ticketed across the county line?

The advantage of traffic school to a motorist, aside from a refresher course in how to drive safely, is that the offense does not go on the driver’s record. The class is limited to minor offenses, as it should be. Illegal turns, speeding a few miles over the limit: Such infractions are the fodder for traffic schools.

Some traffic school instructors will acknowledge that the vehicle code is so complex that police often can find violations if they are intent on doing so. Pulling into a left-turn center lane early before an intersection where traffic is backed up? This may violate a prohibition on driving more than 200 feet in those lanes, a tough standard to judge or even remember. Traffic school can provide a review even for experienced drivers.

In Los Angeles and San Diego counties, those receiving tickets can spend the required hours in a variety of classes presenting a course of instruction that has been approved by the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Most involve some form of humorous instruction, even when taught by a police officer. Some offer chocolate candies as an added inducement. Others provide pizza with the lecture on the motor vehicle code. More recently, video and online courses have been offered.

Orange County for the past 20 years has had only one traffic school at a time. Get a ticket and the only name to call is the National Traffic Safety Institute. In the past, other companies have held the contract and often were reliable sources of campaign contributions for supervisors. Five years ago, the supervisors complained that the courts and other county officials picked the National Traffic Safety Institute without board approval.

A judge on the committee that sets the county’s traffic school standards said that sticking with just one company makes quality control easier. But with the DMV setting the standards, all companies have to measure up. If one firm is caught letting people out early or allowing others to take the course, county officials can bounce them. Having five or six or more schools certified by the DMV should not be much of a problem for Orange County.

A better idea would be allowing people to complete the curriculum via Internet, a method available in Los Angeles. If there are ways to ensure that those claiming to be taking the online course indeed are the traffic offenders, it should be available in Orange County as well.