Vehicles: misdemeanor violations: amnesty.

Existing law requires a county to establish a one-time amnesty program for fines and bail due on or before January 1, 2009, for certain infraction or misdemeanor violations of the Vehicle Code and Penal Code, between January 1, 2012, and June 30, 2012. Existing law authorizes the court and county, in addition to and at the same time as the above one-time amnesty program, to establish a one-time amnesty program for specified misdemeanor violations due on or before January 1, 2009, if certain conditions are met. Existing law allows a person owing a fine or bail that was eligible for amnesty under these programs to pay to the superior or juvenile court 50% of the total fine or bail, as defined, which is required to be accepted by the court in full satisfaction of the delinquent fine or bail. Existing law prohibits criminal action from being brought against a person for a delinquent fine or bail paid under the amnesty programs. This bill would revise these provisions to authorize a court or county, on or after January 1, 2016, and until December 31, 2016, and upon the agreement of both the court and the county, to implement similar amnesty programs for fines and bail due on or before January 1, 2012. The bill would require the amnesty programs to be conducted in accordance with guidelines provided by the Judicial Council.