Chapter 1.5Traffic Violator Schools
Section § 11200
If you want to run or teach at a traffic violator school, you need a valid license from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). People attending these schools must sign a consumer disclosure statement, which parents must sign for minors. This document, which says the courses are approved by the DMV, must be kept by the school for three years. Schools have to report successful completions to the court using the DMV's online database. Upon finishing the course and passing the test, attendees get a receipt with the school's contact information. The rules outlined here are in effect since September 1, 2011.
Section § 11202
This law outlines the requirements for owning and operating a traffic violator school in California. To get a license, a school must have a dedicated business location not near courts or other schools, maintain regular business hours, and have staff present. The school's name shouldn't include misleading cost references, and it must adhere to department regulations, including having an approved lesson plan and proper equipment. A $15,000 bond is required to prevent fraud. The owner must authorize the director to accept legal documents on their behalf, and meet certain requirements if the owner is also the operator or instructor. They must follow ADA guidelines to accommodate students with disabilities. Schools have a year to meet these requirements. Public schools are exempt from some of these rules. Lastly, a notice about the penalties for falsely obtaining completion certificates must be displayed.
Section § 11202.5
This California law outlines the requirements for licensing traffic violator school operators. To operate such a school, a person must have a valid license from the Department of Motor Vehicles, unless they're an owner/operator noted on the owner's license. To qualify for a license, a person must not have committed acts that would lead to a license suspension or revocation, must pass a required exam within three attempts, be at least 21 years old, complete a four-hour educational program, and have a certification from the owner confirming they have the necessary knowledge. All these criteria must be met within one year of applying for the license, or the application will lapse, though resubmission is allowed with payment of the fee.
Section § 11203
If you're trying to set up a traffic violator school instead of posting a bond, you can deposit money as a guarantee. This deposit can be returned after three years if your business has closed or your license has expired, provided there are no claims against it. If a court agrees that there are no claims, they might allow you to get your deposit back sooner. However, if there are any legal actions related to the deposit, the director or the state can deduct attorney fees and administrative costs from it.
Section § 11203.5
If a traffic violator school owner engages in fraudulent activities or breaks the law, leading to losses or damage to the state or its subdivisions, the state can take legal action. This action can be against both the school owner and the insurance backing their bond.
Section § 11204
This section explains the licensing requirements for traffic violator school owners and operators. Licenses last for one year and must be renewed annually, following specific compliance guidelines. Instead of a written exam, operators may submit proof of ongoing professional education to renew their license. The department can issue probationary licenses with special conditions if they believe it's in the public interest, though such conditions won't be listed on the license itself. If a licensee dies, the department can provide a temporary license to their executor, administrator, or heirs to keep the school running and handle business matters for up to a year, extendable if needed. Any temporary license may have restrictions to ensure public safety.
Section § 11205
This California law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to provide a daily-updated list of licensed traffic violator schools on its website. The list will include the types of instruction offered and the cities where classes are available.
Courts or traffic assistance programs can give out printed lists only if they are current, with the latest within 60 days. Additionally, the DMV must have a web-based system by April 1, 2012, for tracking and reporting course participation and completion. This rule was made effective on September 1, 2011.
Section § 11205.1
Before January 1, 2013, a fee mentioned in another section was applied when someone chose or was required to attend traffic school due to a traffic violation. After January 1, 2013, a different fee, as updated in the other section, applies under the same conditions.
Section § 11205.2
This law describes what a Traffic Assistance Program (TAP) is and how it operates in California. A TAP is a public or private nonprofit agency that works with the courts to help process traffic offender cases or assist the department in oversight activities.
Courts can utilize TAPs to perform services like managing traffic infraction cases and can include administrative tasks such as printing county-specific lists, helping traffic violators, or other lawful activities related to traffic case management.
Courts may charge traffic violators fees to cover the TAP's administration costs, but these fees cannot exceed the actual cost of the services provided. Courts also have control over approving and regulating these fees, and they may allow TAPs to collect the fees. This law has been in effect since January 1, 2013.
Section § 11205.4
This law allows the department to use a Traffic Assistance Program (TAP) to oversee traffic violator schools. This includes tasks like audits and inspections of business and class records, business practices, and the content and quality of the instruction provided. They can inspect the business offices and classrooms and observe the actual teaching of traffic safety classes to ensure the education meets high standards. This authority started on September 1, 2011.
Section § 11206
This law section outlines the requirements for becoming a licensed traffic violator school instructor in California. To qualify, a person must have a high school education, pass a department-required exam on traffic laws and driving practices within three attempts, hold a valid California driver’s license, and be at least 18 years old. The license requirements must be fulfilled within a year, or the application will lapse, but a new application can be submitted with the necessary fee. An exception is made for individuals with a valid teaching credential providing instruction at public schools; they are exempt from needing this specific license.
Section § 11206.5
If you want to be licensed as a traffic violator school owner, operator, or instructor in California, you need to apply using specific forms provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). As part of your application, you must supply information about your character, honesty, integrity, and reputation, which the DMV may require to assess your suitability for the role.
Section § 11207
This law explains the requirements for getting and renewing a license as a traffic violator school instructor in California. When someone first qualifies, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issues a license valid for three years, unless it's canceled, suspended, or revoked. Instructors can renew their licenses before they expire by submitting an application. To renew, they must meet certain conditions like passing an exam or providing proof of ongoing education. The DMV can also issue probationary licenses with special conditions if it's in the public's interest.
Section § 11208
This section outlines the fees associated with the operation and management of traffic violator schools in California. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) sets these fees, which cover the issuance, renewal, and duplication of licenses for traffic school owners, operators, instructors, and their locations. It also includes fees for approving course content and administering exams. These charges should cover all administrative costs, except routine monitoring.
Moreover, a separate fee is collected from drivers required to attend these schools, which covers the cost of routine monitoring. These provisions have been effective since September 1, 2011.
Section § 11209
If you own, operate, or teach at a traffic violator school and your license expires without renewal, you can't renew it, but you can apply for a new one. If your license is canceled, it can't be renewed. If it's suspended or revoked, renewal isn't possible until it's reinstated. If suspension or revocation lasts past the license's expiration, you must apply for a new license afterward.
Section § 11210
If you're applying for a license to run or work at a traffic violator school, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) might give you a temporary permit while they review your application. This temporary permit lets you operate the school or teach for up to 120 days while the DMV checks your qualifications.
However, the DMV can cancel this permit if they find errors in your application or if it seems incomplete. The temporary permit becomes void once the DMV either issues you the license or formally denies it.
Section § 11211
If you're applying for a certain license under this chapter, the department can refuse your application for several reasons. This includes if you've had a similar license revoked or suspended before, either in California or another state, or if you've done something that would get a license suspended under Section 11215. If you're part of a business, a questionable history of your business associates could also affect your application. The department may also refuse if you lied or hid important details on your application, or if you've been convicted of a crime related to the licensed duties. However, if your application is refused, you can request a hearing within 60 days to challenge this decision. If your license was revoked, you can reapply after one year.
Section § 11212
This law section outlines the record-keeping requirements for traffic violator schools in California. Every school owner must maintain detailed records at their main business location for each student. The records must include the school's and student's information, details of the instruction given, the cost to the student, and any relevant court docket numbers. These records must be kept for at least three years and can be inspected by certain government bodies. If a school closes or suspends operations, it must hand over these records to the department for review. The student's address can only be used for administrative purposes by the school.
Section § 11213
If you own a traffic violator school, you must inform the department within 10 days if there's a change in ownership or corporate structure. If you change your school's main location or add/remove branches or classrooms, you need to notify the department right away. Instructors and operators must tell the department about new home addresses within five days. The department can also ask for more reports if needed.
Section § 11214
This law allows the department to conduct audits, inspections, and monitoring of licensed traffic violator schools. Audits can be done annually to check business records, class records, and the curriculum. Inspections may involve reviewing the physical business and classroom spaces. Monitoring means observing how traffic safety instruction is actually delivered in classrooms.
Section § 11215
This section allows the department to suspend or revoke a traffic violator school's license if certain conditions are met. The conditions include the school's failure to meet licensing requirements or its involvement in fraudulent activities. The license can also be revoked if the school misrepresents itself as part of the department, makes misleading advertisements, unlawfully collects or solicits fees, or teaches traffic safety without a licensed instructor.
Other reasons for revocation include the school's conviction for specific serious offenses, or failing to maintain required bonds or deposits. Additionally, representing oneself as a department employee or advertising misleadingly can lead to license suspension or revocation.
Section § 11215.5
This law allows the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to suspend or revoke the license of a traffic violator school under certain conditions. These conditions include: if the school's main office doesn't keep open office hours in a county with a large population, excluding public schools; if the school is selling or allowing the sale of false completion certificates; if the school is purposely shortening the teaching time; and if the school is redirecting students to a different traffic school without informing them, using the DMV's list of licensed schools.
Section § 11215.7
If there's a reason within this chapter to deny someone a license, that same reason can be used to suspend or take away an existing license.
Section § 11216
This law states that a traffic violator school owner's license in California can be automatically canceled for several reasons. These include abandoning the business or moving without telling the department, not maintaining the required bond, surrendering the license, changing who is listed as the licensee, or having the corporate status suspended or canceled. Even if the license is surrendered, the department can still try to revoke it.
Section § 11216.2
This law states that if a traffic violator school violates a student's rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar laws more than once, their license will be automatically suspended for 30 days. This determination is made final when no further appeals can be pursued. If the violator school is run by an operator who manages other schools, the licenses for those schools will also be suspended for 30 days.
Section § 11216.5
The department can refuse or suspend a license on an interim basis if the license holder or business representative has been convicted of a serious crime related to their licensed duties, especially if the conviction isn't final or is on appeal. A no contest plea counts as a conviction here.
If the conviction is upheld or becomes final, the interim suspension or refusal becomes a permanent denial or revocation of the license. If the interim measures were conditions of probation, those conditions continue until the probation ends.
If the conviction is overturned on appeal, the department must immediately reverse the suspension or refusal.
Section § 11217
In California, if your license as a traffic violator school owner, operator, or instructor is at risk of being suspended or revoked, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) must give you notice and a chance for a hearing first. However, if there's an immediate issue, like fraud, your license can be suspended right away without prior notice.
If your license gets suspended due to certain serious actions, you must pay a $5 fee to get it reinstated once the issues are resolved. All hearings and notices are handled according to specific government procedures.
If the DMV takes action against your license, you can seek a court review. The DMV can also temporarily suspend your license without a hearing if it's in the public interest, but they must hold a hearing and decide within 30 days of the suspension notice.
Even if your license is suspended, expired, or canceled, the DMV can still file charges to revoke or suspend it further. This situation can influence whether or not you get a license in the future.
Section § 11217.5
This law states that if a business owner licensed under this chapter has closed their business or if an operator or instructor has moved from their last known address, they can receive legal documents by registered mail at the last known business or home address. However, if they have informed the department in writing about a new address for such documents, then the documents should be sent to the updated address.
Section § 11218
This law lets the director make a deal with a traffic violator school owner, operator, or instructor if they face an accusation. This deal, called a compromise settlement agreement, prevents further hearings or appeals and might include probation or monetary fines. These fines can be up to $1,000 per violation for school owners and $500 per violation for operators or instructors, depending on how serious the violation is.
The deal can be made before, during, or after a hearing but must be signed and filed properly before a final decision is made. The department will have set rules for the fine amounts that can be included in these agreements. All involved parties must sign the agreement, and it must be filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings along with any related documentation.
If the licensee doesn't stick to the agreement's terms, the deal is off, and the department can go forward with other actions like refiling the accusation or license penalties.
Section § 11219
This law allows the director to set rules and regulations for traffic violator schools, which teach drivers about road safety. These schools must cover topics like the rights and duties of drivers and pedestrians regarding traffic laws. The director can also set rules for training programs for instructors at these schools.
Section § 11219.3
This law requires that driver education courses include lessons on the rights and responsibilities of drivers and pedestrians. The curriculum should cover how motorists should interact with pedestrians, as well as teaching pedestrians their own rights and responsibilities under traffic laws. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of respecting the right-of-way for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
Section § 11219.5
This section requires traffic schools to issue a receipt when someone pays to register for, attend, or complete a traffic safety course. If a class gets canceled, the school doesn't have to offer a discounted replacement class if they notify students at least 72 hours beforehand or if the cancellation is due to unexpected circumstances beyond their control.
Section § 11220
This law says that if there is a reason to believe a driving instructor is not qualified, they might have to take a test to prove they can still teach. If they refuse or don't take the test, their license to instruct can be temporarily suspended without a hearing. The suspension starts as soon as they receive the notice.
Section § 11222
This law section allows the department to hire a private company to manage aspects of traffic violator schools, but the contract must last no more than three years. The company hired cannot engage in other business activities with these schools and must stick to providing statistical reports to the department and Legislature every year. They also need to keep records open for inspection by designated state officials.
Section § 11223
This California law allows a motorcyclist safety training program, which is licensed as a traffic violator school, to run training courses for motorcyclists. These courses can include both the department's standard curriculum and additional training on safely and legally operating a motorcycle based on specific regulations.