Fewer traffic fines hurt Supreme Court

Wednesday, March 9, 2005 | 9:10 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Despite the rapid increase in Nevada's population, the number of traffic tickets and misdemeanor offenses has remained stagnant, adversely affecting the state Supreme Court budget.

Chief Justice Nancy Becker told a legislative budget subcommittee Tuesday that the number of traffic citations were down last year compared to 2001.

After 9/11, Becker said, there was a "huge shift" by law enforcement away from traffic violations and misdemeanors to homeland security offenses. And that has impacted the budget of the Supreme Court.

There is an administrative assessment imposed on every misdemeanor and traffic citation. And part of what is collected goes to state. In 2001, there were 490,000 assessments imposed on violations. Last year it was down to $428,000.

As its share, the state received $16 million last year, with 51 percent going to the court. Becker said instead of a 5 percent increase in revenue from assessments in the coming two years, the court is predicting a 2 percent raise. And the state general fund will have to make up the different.

Assemblywoman Kathy McClain, D-Las Vegas, who headed the subcommittee, wondered why there was a decrease. "The drivers are not getting any better and the population is growing," she said.

Becker said that positions on the Nevada Highway Patrol have not been filled and that may be one of the reasons.

McClain said Las Vegas Metro "is going to hire a whole lot of cops. Will it (the tickets) pick up?" Becker said she hoped it would increase.

An administrative assessment is tied to the amount of the fine imposed in municipal and justice courts. For instance a person fined $5 to $49 must pay an assessment of $25 that is split between the state and the local governments.

For a fine of $500 to $1,000, there is an administrative assessment of $115.

There are also other administrative assessments. A $10 assessment can be imposed to help build or remodel the local courts. A $7 assessment is allowed for financing specialty courts. And a $25 assessment can be imposed with the collections being split between the local and state governments.