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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – If you have old unpaid traffic tickets, June is the last month to qualify for a special ticket amnesty program that is attempting to collect millions of dollars in unpaid fines across California.
The program – which ends Saturday, June 30 – offers a 50-percent reduction on qualifying old unpaid traffic infraction tickets.
“The amnesty program is a golden opportunity for drivers with old unpaid traffic tickets to clear their records at a reduced amount,” Margie Borjon-Miller, Administrative Office of the Courts, said in a written statement. “And it helps the courts, the state and local governments to generate revenues that would have otherwise gone uncollected.”
While no specific number will be available until after the program concludes, state finance officials estimate that millions of dollars could be collected. A final report to the legislature on the amnesty program is due this fall, according to state officials.
The Administrative Office of the Courts reported that superior courts throughout California already have resolved thousands of cases and collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid fees and fines as a result of the program, which began Jan. 1.
In the program's first three months, the Superior Court in Fresno County had collected about $92,000, the Tulare Court about $266,000, the Kings Court about $64,000, the Madera Court about $17,000, and the Stanislaus Court generated approximately $194,000 in revenue, the Administrative Office of the Courts reported.
From Jan. 1 through March 31, Lake County collected $61,989, according to Treasurer-Tax Collector Sandra Shaul, whose department oversees collections duties for the county.
In April and May, the county collected another $25,283, Shaul said. That's a five-month total of $87,272.
Shaul estimated that the county is likely to collect about $120,000 by the time the amnesty program ends.
But that’s just a fraction of what’s owed to the county, according to Shaul.
“The total delinquent court debt is monumental; 34,707 cases totaling $29,947,000,” Shaul told Lake County News. “Of those, there are 12,794 amnesty eligible cases totaling $11,878,283.”
Most of the delinquent cases are more than 10 years old and have been sent to at least two collection agencies not including the tax collector, Shaul said.
“The oldest fines ones have been to three collection agencies,” she said. “There are more new fines each month than fines paid.”
Parking tickets, DUIs and reckless driving citations are not eligible, the Administrative Office of the Courts reported. Drivers should contact the superior court in the county where the citation occurred to verify if they are eligible for the amnesty program.
While the program ends June 30, the last business day of the month is Friday, June 29.
Anyone with questions about amnesty or whether they have eligible fines, can call the Lake County Collection Division at 707-263-2583.
Shaul said all amnesty payments made between now and June 30 must be in full with secured funds.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A man serving a state prison sentence for a 1986 Upper Lake murder has died just as he was due to be released on compassionate grounds.
Carl Hampton Wade, 66, died of natural causes at 3:20 a.m. Thursday, May 31, at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, according to Luis Patino, a spokesman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Wade was sentenced to 16 years to life for the shooting death of John Karns.
Wade shot Karns in the chest, then came back to shoot him in the head. He buried Karns' body the next day, then fled to Colorado, where he shot and permanently disabled another man.
Last month, the First Appellate District Court of Appeals ordered that Wade be released to live out the remainder of his life with his sister in Chico, as Lake County News has reported.
The appellate court overturned Lake County Superior Court Judge Andrew Blum's ruling last November that Wade should remain in prison due to concerns about public safety.
Blum also had doubts about the medical evidence presented in the proposal for Wade's release, which included statements by doctors that he had less than six months to live.
The appellate court's unpublished May 17 decision had ordered Blum to release Wade.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff said the matter never made it to the local court calendar for a hearing because Blum reportedly signed Wade's release order last week.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Registrar of Voters said Monday that she and her office were misrepresented in recent campaign advertising in support of a marijuana cultivation initiative.
Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley said the Lake County Citizens for Responsible Regulations sponsored by the Lake County Green Farmers Associations paid for a political advertisement in both the Lake County Record-Bee and the Penny Slaver “which was an erroneous and inappropriate message that appeared to indicate that the Lake County Registrar of Voters supported Measure D.”
Fridley added, “This advertisement was printed without my permission and I would never publicly support or oppose a political issue in Lake County.”
The ad stated that, “according to the Lake County Registrar of Voters” Measure D accomplishes items including land use regulation and legal controls, things that Fridley said she has never stated about the measure.
Fridley said the sample ballot booklet her office printed and distributed includes the full text of Measure D, County Counsel Anita Grant’s impartial analysis of the initiative, and the arguments submitted in favor of and against Measure D as well the rebuttal arguments.
“The Registrar of Voters responsibility is to provide unbiased voting information to voters and not to promote any measure or candidate being voted on in Lake County,” Fridley said.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium will offer viewings of the historic transit of Venus on Tuesday.
The observatory will offer the viewings from 2:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
When Venus passes directly between Earth and the Sun, it will appear as a small dot gliding slowly across the face of the sun.
The Tuesday transit will be the last one until 2117.
The observatory's solar telescopes will allow a great opportunity to experience this event. For your safety, solar viewing glasses will be provided.
Visit the Transit of Venus Web site at www.transitofvenus.org/education/video-new-media .
Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium is located at 5725 Oak Hills Lane, Kelseyville.
As fire season arrives, state fire officials are reminding residents that clearing dead grass and brush 100 feet from homes is a critical step in preparing for fire season.
As the fire danger increases, the unsafe use of power equipment can actually start new fires, according to Cal Fire.
Every spring, Cal Fire and other fire agencies remind homeowners of the importance of cutting down overgrown vegetation, but stress that how they clear their defensible space is just as important.
“The spark from the metal blade of a lawn mower against a rock can easily ignite a wildfire,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, director of Cal Fire. “While it’s important to clear dead grass and brush, we don’t want homeowners doing the right thing the wrong way.
Two weeks ago, a wildfire known as the Banner Fire was sparked by unsafe equipment use, charring 5,321 acres just east of Julian in San Diego County.
Cal Fire officials say the fire serves as a reminder of how dry conditions are and how extra vigilance is needed to prevent wildfires.
Homeowners are urged to take advantage of this week’s cooler weather to ensure they have cleared all dead or dying vegetation before increasing temperatures return.
Cal Fire offers the following tips to prevent fires from equipment use:
- Do yard maintenance with powered equipment before 10 a.m., not during the heat of the day or when the wind is blowing.
- Never use lawn mowers on dry grass or brush.
- Remove any rocks in and around the area before operating equipment.
- Be sure your portable gas powered equipment has a spark arrester.
- Never re-fuel while equipment is still hot from use
- Keep the equipment maintained and free of carbon and other buildup.
For more steps on how to prepare for fire season visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – More than $174,000 has been raised so far in the supervisorial, judicial and initiative campaigns on the June primary ballot.
The latest financial campaign reports, submitted to the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office, cover the period from March 18 through May 19.
Approximately $174,128.55 was raised in all of the campaigns, including the supervisorial races for Districts 1, 4 and 5; the race for Lake County Superior Court Department 3’s bench; and the battle over the marijuana cultivation initiative, Measure D.
Jim Comstock, seeking reelection as District 1 supervisor, has raised the most of any campaign so far, with approximately $30,000, according to the reports. His opponent, Victoria Brandon, has raised $25,475.73.
The District 1 race, with $55,475.73, has seen the most money raised among all of this year's races, followed by the $52,827.99 accumulated among the four candidates in the judicial race – Judy Conard, Michael Friel, Susan Krones and Michael Lunas.
Lunas has raised $18,841, followed by Conard with $17,239.12, Friel with $12,997.87 and Krones with $3,750.
In the District 4 race, incumbent Supervisor Anthony Farrington has raised $19,305.83, with challenger Fred Langston bringing in $2,349.85,
In the District 5 race, Supervisor Rob Brown has brought in $19,939 in his bid for another term, with challenger Joan Moss raising $4,661 so far.
Regarding Measure D, Citizens to Protect Lake County-No on Measure D has raised $9,200 and Yes on Measure D, Lake County Citizens for Responsible Regulations, sponsored by the Lake County Green Farmers Association, has raised $10,369.15.
A breakdown of contributions and expenditures follows.
LAKE COUNTY SUPERVISOR, DISTRICT 1
VICTORIA BRANDON
Contributions:
Total contributions received for the reporting period: $16,857
Total contributions received, year to date: $25,475.73
Monetary contributions for the reporting period: $13,208
Monetary contributions, year to date: $19991.23
Loans received for the reporting period: $0
Loans received, year to date: $1,000
Nonmonetary contributions for the reporting period: $3,649
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $4,484.50
Expenditures:
Total expenditures, reporting period: $11,578.50
Total expenditures, year to date: $17,223.33
JIM COMSTOCK
Contributions:
Total contributions received for the reporting period: $20,918
Total contributions received, year to date: $30,000
Monetary contributions for the reporting period: $19,918
Monetary contributions, year to date: $29,000
Loans received for the reporting period: $0
Loans received, year to date: $0
Nonmonetary contributions for the reporting period: $1,000
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $1,000
Expenditures:
Total expenditures, reporting period: $20,671.99
Total expenditures, year to date: $23,504.37
LAKE COUNTY SUPERVISOR, DISTRICT 4
ANTHONY FARRINGTON
Contributions:
Total contributions received for the reporting period: $9,049.83
Total contributions received, year to date: $19,305.83
Monetary contributions for the reporting period: $7,803
Monetary contributions, year to date: $11,209
Loans received for the reporting period: $0
Loans received, year to date: $0
Nonmonetary contributions for the reporting period: $1,246.83
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $8,096.83
Expenditures:
Total expenditures, reporting period: $4,299.35
Total expenditures, year to date: $9,932.77
FRED LANGSTON
Contributions:
Total contributions received for the reporting period: $2,049
Total contributions received, year to date: $2,349.85
Monetary contributions for the reporting period: $1,248
Monetary contributions, year to date: $1,548
Loans received for the reporting period: $0
Loans received, year to date: $0
Nonmonetary contributions for the reporting period: $601.85
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $601.85
Expenditures:
Total expenditures, reporting period: $1,965.13
Total expenditures, year to date: $2,036.25
LAKE COUNTY SUPERVISOR, DISTRICT 5
ROB BROWN
Contributions:
Total contributions received for the reporting period: $8,810
Total contributions received, year to date: $19,939
Monetary contributions for the reporting period: $7,955
Monetary contributions, year to date: $19,084
Loans received for the reporting period: $0
Loans received, year to date: $0
Nonmonetary contributions for the reporting period: $855
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $855
Expenditures:
Total expenditures, reporting period: $19,120.54
Total expenditures, year to date: $21,310.39
JOAN MOSS
Contributions:
Total contributions received for the reporting period: $3,780
Total contributions received, year to date: $4,661
Monetary contributions for the reporting period: $3,780
Monetary contributions, year to date: $4,661
Loans received for the reporting period: $0
Loans received, year to date: $0
Nonmonetary contributions for the reporting period: $0
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $0
Expenditures:
Total expenditures, reporting period: $2,741.84
Total expenditures, year to date: $3,661.04
LAKE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT, DEPARTMENT 3
JUDY CONARD
Contributions:
Total contributions received for the reporting period: $13,525.66
Total contributions received, year to date: $17,239.12
Monetary contributions for the reporting period: $7,188
Monetary contributions, year to date: $8,575
Loans received for the reporting period: $2,500
Loans received, year to date: $4,581.94
Nonmonetary contributions for the reporting period: $3,837.66
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $4,082.18
Expenditures:
Total expenditures, reporting period: $14,344.28
Total expenditures, year to date: $14,811.52
MICHAEL FRIEL
Contributions:
Total contributions received for the reporting period: $6,524.87
Total contributions received, year to date: $12,997.87
Monetary contributions for the reporting period: $918
Monetary contributions, year to date: $7,391
Loans received for the reporting period: $5,500
Loans received, year to date: $5,500
Nonmonetary contributions for the reporting period: $106.87
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $106.87
Expenditures:
Total expenditures, reporting period: $7,886
Total expenditures, year to date: $12,052.56
SUSAN KRONES
Contributions:
Total contributions received for the reporting period: $2,000
Total contributions received, year to date: $3,750
Monetary contributions for the reporting period: $0
Monetary contributions, year to date: $50
Loans received for the reporting period: $2,000
Loans received, year to date: $3,700
Nonmonetary contributions for the reporting period: $0
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $0
Expenditures:
Total expenditures, reporting period: $1,379.30
Total expenditures, year to date: $2,188.94
MICHAEL LUNAS
Contributions:
Total contributions received for the reporting period: $11,015
Total contributions received, year to date: $18,841
Monetary contributions for the reporting period: $5,935
Monetary contributions, year to date: $9,371.80
Loans received for the reporting period: $5,000
Loans received, year to date: $9,000
Nonmonetary contributions for the reporting period: $80
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $470
Expenditures:
Total expenditures, reporting period: $11,459.33
Total expenditures, year to date: $17,740.60
MEASURE D INITIATIVE
CITIZENS TO PROTECT LAKE COUNTY – NO ON MEASURE D
Contributions:
Total contributions received for the reporting period: $9,200
Total contributions received, year to date: $9,200
Monetary contributions for the reporting period: $4,000
Monetary contributions, year to date: $4,000
Loans received for the reporting period: $0
Loans received, year to date: $0
Nonmonetary contributions for the reporting period: $5,200
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $5,200
Expenditures:
Total expenditures, reporting period: $8,751.20
Total expenditures, year to date: $8,751.20
YES ON MEASURE D, LAKE COUNTY CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE REGULATIONS, SPONSORED BY THE LAKE COUNTY GREEN FARMERS ASSOCIATION
Contributions:
Total contributions received for the reporting period: $10,250
Total contributions received, year to date: $10,369.15
Monetary contributions for the reporting period: $10,250
Monetary contributions, year to date: $10,369.15
Loans received for the reporting period: $0
Loans received, year to date: $0
Nonmonetary contributions for the reporting period: $0
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $0
Expenditures:
Total expenditures, reporting period: $1,070.27
Total expenditures, year to date: $12,641.10
Email Elizabeth Larson at