What California's 2018 Amnesty Program Did
California's 2018 license suspension amnesty, formally called the Traffic Amnesty Program, allowed drivers with suspended licenses to clear certain traffic-related debt without paying the full amount owed. The program ran from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, and was designed to help people get their licenses back by reducing or eliminating fines and fees that had accumulated from unpaid traffic citations.
The amnesty covered traffic violations that had resulted in license suspensions — primarily unpaid fines from moving violations, parking violations, and failure-to-appear charges. Drivers could reduce what they owed by up to 80 percent of the original fine amount, depending on their income level. Those who may have access to as low-income could have their fines reduced even further or waived entirely.
The program was administered through county traffic courts and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). It was not automatic — drivers had to contact their county court or the DMV to learn whether they were may be able to access and to request the reduction.
Key Takeaways
- The 2018 amnesty program ran from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, and allowed drivers to reduce unpaid traffic fines by up to 80 percent based on income.
- The program covered traffic citations that had led to license suspension, including moving violations, parking violations, and failure-to-appear charges.
- Drivers had to contact their county traffic court or the DMV directly to request a fine reduction; the amnesty was not automatic.
- Low-income drivers could receive larger reductions or have fines waived entirely if they met income thresholds set by their county.
- The program ended on June 30, 2019, and is no longer available; drivers with suspended licenses now face different options depending on the reason for suspension.
Who Could Use the 2018 Amnesty
The amnesty was open to any California driver with a suspended license due to unpaid traffic fines. This included people whose licenses were suspended for moving violations (speeding, running a red light, reckless driving), parking violations that went unpaid, or failure to appear in court after receiving a citation.
The program did not cover suspensions for other reasons, such as those related to DUI convictions, medical conditions, or violations of commercial driver's license rules. If your suspension was tied to a criminal conviction or a separate administrative action by the DMV, you would not have been able to use this amnesty.
Income level determined the size of the fine reduction. Drivers earning up to 125 percent of the federal poverty line could receive the largest reductions or have fines waived. Those earning between 125 and 250 percent of the poverty line received smaller reductions. The exact thresholds and reduction percentages varied slightly by county.
How the Fine Reduction Worked
Under the amnesty, the court would reduce the fine owed, but you still had to pay the reduced amount to clear the debt and restore your license. The reduction was not a forgiveness of the entire fine — it was a discount applied to what you owed.
For example, if you owed $500 in fines and may have access to for an 80 percent reduction, you would pay $100 instead. If you may have access to as low-income, the reduction could be even larger, potentially reducing your payment to $50 or less, or eliminating it entirely depending on your county's rules.
Once you paid the reduced amount, the court would notify the DMV, and your license suspension would be lifted. The timeline for reinstatement varied, but most drivers saw their licenses restored within a few weeks of payment.
The Process for Requesting a Reduction
To use the amnesty, you had to contact your county traffic court or the DMV directly. There was no online portal or centralized process process — each county handled requests through its own court system. You could call the traffic court in the county where you received the citation or visit in person.
When you contacted the court, you would need to provide your driver's license number, the citation number if you had it, and information about your income if you were requesting a low-income reduction. The court would then calculate what you owed under the amnesty terms and tell you the reduced amount.
Payment methods varied by county. Some courts accepted payment by phone, mail, or in person. Others required you to appear in court or submit a written request. It was important to confirm with your specific county court how they handled amnesty requests and what documentation they needed.
Income Documentation and Low-Income Reductions
If you earned less than 250 percent of the federal poverty line, you could request a larger fine reduction based on your income. To prove your income, you typically had to provide recent pay stubs, tax returns, or a letter from your employer. Some courts also accepted proof of enrollment in public information programs like CalFresh or Medi-Cal as evidence of low income.
The federal poverty line changes each year, so the income thresholds for the amnesty also shifted. In 2018, a single person earning roughly $30,000 or less per year would have been near the threshold for the largest reductions, though this varied by family size and county interpretation.
Courts were required to accept income documentation in whatever form you could provide it. If you did not have recent pay stubs, a letter from your employer, a tax return, or proof of public benefits was acceptable. Some courts waived income documentation requirements if you appeared in person and explained your financial situation.
What Happened After the Amnesty Ended
The amnesty program expired on June 30, 2019. After that date, drivers with suspended licenses due to unpaid traffic fines no longer had access to the automatic fine reduction. However, California courts still have the authority to reduce or waive fines in individual cases based on financial hardship, but this requires a separate request and is not may provide.
If you did not use the amnesty before it ended, you still owe the full amount of your original fines. To restore your license now, you would need to either pay the full amount or request a hardship reduction directly from the court handling your case. Some courts may still consider reducing fines for low-income drivers, but the process and terms are different from the 2018 amnesty.
Drivers with current license suspensions can contact their county traffic court to ask about payment plans or hardship reductions. The court may allow you to pay fines in installments or reduce the amount based on your current financial situation, though this is handled case-by-case rather than through a program-wide amnesty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use the 2018 amnesty if I missed the important date?
No. The amnesty ended on June 30, 2019, and is no longer available. If you did not use it during that time, you would now owe the full original fine amount. You can contact your county traffic court to ask about other options, such as payment plans or individual hardship reductions, but these are not may provide and are handled separately from the amnesty.
What if my license suspension was for a DUI or criminal conviction?
The 2018 amnesty covered only suspensions related to unpaid traffic fines. Suspensions tied to DUI convictions, criminal charges, or other administrative actions were not may be able to access. You would need to follow the specific reinstatement process for your type of suspension, which varies depending on the reason.
How do I know if I still owe money from an old traffic citation?
You can contact the county traffic court where you received the citation or check the DMV website for your driving record. Your record will show any outstanding fines or suspensions. You can also call the DMV at 1-800-777-0133 to ask about your license status and any associated debt.
If I paid the reduced fine during the amnesty, could the court ask for the rest later?
No. Once you paid the reduced amount under the amnesty and the court processed it, the fine was considered satisfied. The court could not later demand the remaining balance. The amnesty terms were final once payment was made and your license was reinstated.