HomeMy WebLinkAbout09 - PH-1 - Traffic Citation Sign-Off Fee - 7/19/2011CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: July 19, 2011 ITEM NUMBER: Item Number
SUBJECT: TRAFFIC CITATION SIGN -OFF FEE
DATE: JUNE 2, 2011
FROM: POLICE OPERATIONS SERVICE DIVISION
PRESENTATION MARTY CARVER -TRAFFIC BUREAU COMMANDER
BY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 714 754-5384
CONTACT:
RECOMMENDATION:
Police Department staff recommends charging a fee for signing off correctible vehicle
code violation citations by front desk personnel for all citations except for Costa Mesa
correctible citations written to Costa Mesa residents.
BACKGROUND:
The Costa Mesa Police Department has experienced an increase in the volume of
citation sign offs due to the City's current "no charge" sign off policy. Violators have
stated to front desk personnel that they come to Costa Mesa to have their citations
signed off because other agencies charge a fee for the same service. From January 1,
2010 through May 31, 2010, a citation sign -off survey was completed to gather
information from other Orange County police agencies. The survey results showed that
all but two of the fifteen agencies contacted charged non-residents for signing off
citations.
ANALYSIS:
Data from January—May of 2010 was gathered and compiled into two tables. The
"CMPD Citation Sign -Off Volume" table lists the monthly volume of citation "sign offs"
processed by CMPD staff. This table categorizes received citations issued by Costa
Mesa Police Department and non -local police agencies. Additional categories list
whether the citizen receiving the citation was a Costa Mesa or non -local resident.
The "Fees Charged by Major Orange County Police Agencies" table lists information in
a similar manner. The survey shows agencies typically charge fees that are more
expensive to non -local residents who were issued a citation by another police agency.
Less expensive fees are charged, by some agencies, to local residents who received a
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citation from their local police agency. Other cities charge a flat fee to both local and
non -local residents. The average fee amounts are listed for each of the categories.
CMPD Citation Si n Off Volume
2010
Not Our
Cite
Not Our
Cite
CM Cite
CM Cite
Anaheim
MONTH
Non-
Resident
CM
Resident
Non-
Resident
CM
Resident
Total
JANUARY
106
45
48
73
272
FEBRUARY
95
34
50
66
245
MARCH
95
50
55
114
314
APRIL
94
41
52
49
236
MAY
85
41
28
73
227
Total
475
211
233
375
1294
FEES CHARGED BY MAJOR OUTSIDE POLICE AGENCIES
Police Departments
Not our
Cite Non-
Resident
Not our
Cite City
Resident
City Cite
Non-
Resident
City Cite
City
Resident
Anaheim
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00
Brea
$25.00
$25.00
$0.00
$0.00
Cypress
$15.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Fountain Valley
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00
Fullerton
$10.00
$10.00
$0.00
$0.00
Garden Grove
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00
Huntington Beach
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Irvine
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00
Laguna Beach
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Newport Beach
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00
Orange
$21.00
$21.00
$0.00
$0.00
Placentia
$15.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Santa Ana
$10.00
$10.00
$0.00
$0.00
Tustin
$10.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Westminster
$13.00
$13.00
$0.00
$0.00
Total:
$186.00
$146.00
$67.00
$67.00
Average Total:
$12.40
$9.73
$4.47
$4.47
The fee recommended for adoption does not exceed the reasonable cost to the City of
performing this service.
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED:
In the event the recommended action is not approved, the alternative would be to
continue offering free citation sign -off services to the public.
is
FISCAL REVIEW:
Projected annual revenue from the citation sign -off fee, based on staffs recommendation,
would be approximately $18,000. This projection was based on the five-month survey
data collected in 2010 by subtracting the number of Costa Mesa citations to Costa Mesa
residents from the total number of citations processed. The cost recovery for the City
during the survey would have been $9,190.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and the attached resolution and no further
legal review is required.
CONCLUSION:
Based on the current practices by other police agencies, staff recommends the City of
Costa Mesa impose a $10 sign -off fee for all citations, except for those citations written
by Costa Mesa Police officers to Costa MesaIsidents. The suggested fee falls
between the high and low-end average fee amounin the survey.
MARTY CARVER DE IS KIES
Lieutenant/Traffic Commander
LARRY HURST
Interim Finance Director
DISTRIBUTION: City Manager
City Attorney
Interim Finance Director
City Clerk
ATTACHMENTS: 1 Resolution
Chief of Police
RICHARD L. ADAMS II
Deputy City Attorney
3
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING A FEE FOR
CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION OF VEHICLE CODE
VIOLATIONS
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA DOES HEREBY
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, Section 40616(c) of the California Vehicle Code provides that a
police department may certify the correction of violations of the Vehicle Code; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the California Constitution and the laws
of the State of California, the City of Costa Mesa is authorized to adopt and implement
rates, fees, and charges for municipal services; provided, however, that such rates,
fees, and/or charges do not exceed the estimated reasonable cost of providing such
services; and
WHEREAS, the Costa Mesa Police Department currently does not charge a fee
to certify corrections of violations of the Vehicle Code; and
WHEREAS, the Costa Mesa Police Department has experienced an increase in
the volume of requests for certification of corrections of Vehicle Code violations due to
the absence of a fee for such service; and
WHEREAS, this City Council desires to establish a fee for Costa Mesa Police
Department certification of corrections of Vehicle Code violations; and
WHEREAS, the fee to be established is consistent with the range of fees
charged by other similar Orange County agencies and is lower than the average of
those fees; and
WHEREAS, the fee will not exceed the costs reasonably borne by the City for
officers' time in inspecting and certifying corrections of California Vehicle Code
violations; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of this fee is projected to generate approximately
$18,000 annually, which will help the City offset some of the many costs associated
with the vital public safety services provided by the Costa Mesa Police Department; and
WHEREAS, this City Council has conducted a duly noticed public hearing with
respect to this fee prior to the adoption of this Resolution.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council hereby
establishes a $10.00 fee per violation for the certification of correction of Vehicle Code
violations, excluding traffic citations issued by the Costa Mesa Police Department to
Costa Mesa residents. Such fee shall be implemented commencing September 17,
2011, which is at least 60 days after adoption of this Ordinance.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of , 2011.
ATTEST:
Julie Folcik, City Clerk
2
Gary Monahan, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Thomas P. Duarte, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA)
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
I, JULIE FOLCIK, City Clerk of the City of Costa Mesa, hereby certify that the
above and foregoing Resolution No. was duly and regularly passed and
adopted by the said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the _ day of
2011, by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of
the City of Costa Mesa this day of 2011.
JULIE FOLCIK, CITY CLERK
3
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING A FEE FOR
CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION OF VEHICLE CODE
VIOLATIONS
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA DOES HEREBY
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, Section 40616(c) of the California Vehicle Code provides that a
police department may certify the correction of violations of the Vehicle Code; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the California Constitution and the laws
of the State of California, the City of Costa Mesa is authorized to adopt and implement
rates, fees, and charges for municipal services; provided, however, that such rates,
fees, and/or charges do not exceed the estimated reasonable cost of providing such
services; and
WHEREAS, the Costa Mesa Police Department currently does not charge a fee
to certify corrections of violations of the Vehicle Code; and
WHEREAS, the Costa Mesa Police Department has experienced an increase in
the volume of requests for certification of corrections of Vehicle Code violations due to
the absence of a fee for such service; and
WHEREAS, this City Council desires to establish a fee for Costa Mesa Police
Department certification of corrections of Vehicle Code violations; and
WHEREAS, the fee to be established is consistent with the range of fees
charged by other similar Orange County agencies and is lower than the average of
those fees; and
WHEREAS, the fee will not exceed the costs reasonably borne by the City for
officers' time in inspecting and certifying corrections of California Vehicle Code
violations; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of this fee is projected to generate approximately
$18,000 annually, which will help the City offset some of the many costs associated
with the vital public safety services provided by the Costa Mesa Police Department; and
WHEREAS, this City Council has conducted a duly noticed public hearing with
respect to this fee prior to the adoption of this Resolution.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council hereby
establishes a $10.00 fee per violation for the certification of correction of Vehicle Code
violations, excluding traffic citations issued by the Costa Mesa Police Department to
Costa Mesa residents. Such fee shall be implemented commencing September 17,
2011, which is at least 60 days after adoption of this Ordinance.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of , 2011.
ATTEST:
Julie Folcik, City Clerk
P)
Gary Monahan, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Thomas P. Duarte, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA)
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
1, JULIE FOLCIK, City Clerk of the City of Costa Mesa, hereby certify that the
above and foregoing Resolution No. was duly and regularly passed and
adopted by the said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the _ day of
2011, by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of
the City of Costa Mesa this day of 2011.
JULIE FOLCIK, CITY CLERK