Courts to Offer Amnesty Program for Delinquent Ticket Payers

RIVERSIDE - Riverside County residents who have neglected to pay a traffic ticket in the last few years could be eligible for a 50 percent discount on whatever they owe under a statewide amnesty program, it was announced today.

Beginning in January, courts in all 58 California counties will forgive half of the unpaid amount due on traffic-related fines imposed before Jan. 1, 2009, as an incentive for people to resolve delinquencies and help the courts close a funding gap.

''This is a win-win,'' said Ronald Overholt, interim administrative director of the courts. ''People have an opportunity to...