Mental illness patient got a fix-it ticket, now > $1000. Can it be lowered?

[mlee]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA

My brother has been recently been diagnosed as bipolar and psychotic. 7 months prior to his official diagnosis, he got a fix-it ticket in SF while in a severely manic phase (i.e. not in a "normal" state of mind) and never paid the ticket. I only discovered the ticket when he recently received a letter from a collection agency, and the fine is now > $1000. He never got any notice from SF superior court because the DMV reported his prior address (it was up to date online and the collections sent to the correct one). He is unable to work due to his illness, is living on gov't assistance, and is unable to pay. Both the court and collections will not adjust the fine, saying it's far too late and he has to pay. Is there anything he can do?

 

[Proserpina]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA

My brother has been recently been diagnosed as bipolar and psychotic. 7 months prior to his official diagnosis, he got a fix-it ticket in SF while in a severely manic phase (i.e. not in a "normal" state of mind) and never paid the ticket. I only discovered the ticket when he recently received a letter from a collection agency, and the fine is now > $1000. He never got any notice from SF superior court because the DMV reported his prior address (it was up to date online and the collections sent to the correct one). He is unable to work due to his illness, is living on gov't assistance, and is unable to pay. Both the court and collections will not adjust the fine, saying it's far too late and he has to pay. Is there anything he can do?

The only viable suggestion is that he pay it off. Perhaps you could loan him the money.

Please understand too that even if he was in a manic state there isn't a doctor in the country who would stand there and say that he was definitely manic at the time he got the ticket. Nobody can say that, actually.

 

[Zigner]

The only viable suggestion is that he pay it off. Perhaps you could loan him the money.

Please understand too that even if he was in a manic state there isn't a doctor in the country who would stand there and say that he was definitely manic at the time he got the ticket. Nobody can say that, actually.

...nor would it matter.

All he had to originally do was fix the problem, get the vehicle inspected, and pay the $25 fee.

 

[CdwJava]

He can decline to pay and lose his license if it has not been suspended already.

What was the original violation for? And, has he corrected that violation, yet?

He might also want to look into the amnesty program:

http://www.courts.ca.gov/trafficamnesty.htm

 

[Proserpina]

...nor would it matter.

All he had to originally do was fix the problem, get the vehicle inspected, and pay the $25 fee.

... $25? And it's up to over a grand? Okay, I'm going to put myself in time-out because this OP does not want to hear what I'm oh-so-tempted to say.

 

[Proserpina]

He can decline to pay and lose his license if it has not been suspended already.

What was the original violation for? And, has he corrected that violation, yet?

He might also want to look into the amnesty program:

http://www.courts.ca.gov/trafficamnesty.htm

From the site, it doesn't appear that the ticket would qualify:

... Persons with unpaid tickets whose fines were originally due to be paid date on or before January 1, 2013 ...