Why Bail so expensive for following too close - CA

[solafida]

What is the name of your state? California

I received a ticket for following too close. I was dismayed when the officer said this was the charge. I was not and have never to my knowledge ever tail gated. I went to trial and unfairly received a guilty sentance. The officer said that I was driving up right behind the other driver and slamming the brakes, then I pulled back and did the same thing again - I had no idea why he said that or why anyone would do that.

All aside, I had to pay $242. I went and looked online for the bail schedule and found out the bail for this "offense" is $35. Why did I have to pay so much? The only tickets I have received in the past 10 years is one for not wearing a seat belt in 2000 (which I was guilty of) and another for not wearing a seat belt in 2003 (which I was not guilty of - it was their "wear a seat belt" safety week and was being monitored on the road right in front of my home - end of the week ticket). I could have been going over 100 and gotten a less expensive ticket. What is going on? Thank you

[CdwJava]

Unless the bail schedule you looked at was for your county, chances are it was the uniform bail schedule published by Judicial Council ... and it is not binding on every court. Also, in almost every fine, there are court fees and other assessments added on.

Can you provide a link to the schedule you found that showed it at $35?

And specifically, what section were you cited for?

EDIT: The LARGE PDF file linked below has the total bail for CVC 21703 as $134 ... if you read the sections in Roman Numerals it discusses additional fees and penalties that may apply. Yes, the base bail is $35 ... but there are $92 in additional fees added in right off the top.

[url]http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/reference/documents/05JCBail.pdf[/url]


- Carl

[solafida]

Thank you so much for your help. This is where I found the Bail Schedule I looked at. It sounds like we were on the same schedule. I was cited for VC21703.

[url]http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=53,130052&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL[/url]

I was aware of the additional fees but no one paying thier tickets ahead of me had any amount close to mine (all around $140-$163). The cashier said something like because of the past offenses, my bail had gone up everytime I paid and that everyone pays something different.

I was also wondering, Are there any points that go along with this offense. I did not see any noted. Would it be worth an appeal?

[CdwJava]

This violation has one point assigned to it, I believe.

- Carl