By CATHERINE CORBETT
There is a legal way to get moving violation citations not to count on your driving record. It’s called traffic school and it’s been offered in Provo City since 1996.
“Traffic court was getting so backed up, we figured if we educate people we’ll have less violations and less accidents” she said.
“For people who don’t habitually break the law, it gives them a break” said Linda Adams, traffic school office specialist.
Traffic school in Provo costs $50. It’a an hour and a half class with no test offered several times a week in the morning and evening. Completion of the class dismisses the citation itself and makes it so the citation does not show up on personal driving records, Adams said.
Sargent Kucher, one of the instructors of the class said, “It makes it so that insurance won’t go up because of a citation.”
According to a bail schedule, you must take action before two weeks from the date of your citation or by the due date given on your citation. Failure to do so may result in a warrant being issued for you arrest, and/or additional heavy fines and/or late penalties of $70.00 or more.
Kusher said that many BYU students have taken advantage of traffic school.
David Dayton, a film major from Santa Clara, Ut, said he got a double ticket at 1:30am on the 4th of July for speeding and not stopping at a stop sign. Each ticket was for $57. About traffic school he said, “It wasn’t boring, you always learn a few new rules.”
Sargent Kucher said he tries to make people better drivers and to make it interesting. During the hour and a half class students see clips of major accidents and roll overs where the importance of seatbelts is stressed. Students watch a video of a police car with it’s siren on cruising on University Avenue. From the film it is clear that many Provo motorist don’t follow state law and pull over to the right side of the road. In Sargent Kucher’s class, he talks about speeding. He said, “For speed to do you any good, you’ve got to have distance. . .speeding to St. George you’ll get there quicker…around Provo it’s only going to save you a few seconds.”
Kusher also goes over school bus passing laws, and railroad laws. He said the biggest cause of accidents is rear-end collisions because of following too close. At the end, Kucher shares Frank and Ernest cartoons and gives students the oppourtunity to share driver pet peeves. Some people actually enjoy it, he said. But, “Like any class there are always a few people dozing” he said.
Some violations disqualify a person from traffic school. Linda Adams said, “An accident or going 20 miles over the speed limit (disqualify)” For these violations the person must appear in court. Also, a person may choose to appear in court to plead not quilty. Paul Sheffield, a court executive with the 4th District Court said, “Anytime it goes before the judge if they are not guilty, it can be dismissed.” Also, if a person already has more than one citation in the last two years, court may be the only option.
