Section 40255 Of Article 4. Procedure On Toll Evasion Violations From California Vehicle Code >> Division 17. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 4.
40255
. (a) Within 21 days from the issuance of the notice of toll
evasion violation, or within 15 days from the mailing of the notice
of delinquent toll evasion, whichever occurs later, a person may
contest a notice of toll evasion violation or a notice of delinquent
toll evasion. In that case, the processing agency shall do the
following:
(1) The processing agency shall either investigate with its own
records and staff or request that the issuing agency investigate the
circumstances of the notice with respect to the contestant's written
explanation of reasons for contesting the toll evasion violation. If,
based upon the results of that investigation, the processing agency
is satisfied that the violation did not occur or that the registered
owner was not responsible for the violation, the processing agency
shall cancel the notice of toll evasion violation and make an
adequate record of the reasons for canceling the notice. The
processing agency shall mail the results of the investigation to the
person who contested the notice of toll evasion violation or the
notice of delinquent toll evasion violation.
(2) If the person contesting a notice of toll evasion violation or
notice of delinquent toll evasion violation is not satisfied with
the results of the investigation provided for in paragraph (1), the
person may, within 15 days of the mailing of the results of the
investigation, deposit the amount of the toll evasion penalty and
request an administrative review. After January 1, 1996, an
administrative hearing shall be held within 90 calendar days
following the receipt of a request for an administrative hearing,
excluding any time tolled pursuant to this article. The person
requesting the hearing may request one continuance, not to exceed 21
calendar days.
(b) The administrative review procedure shall consist of the
following:
(1) The person requesting an administrative review shall indicate
to the processing agency his or her election for a review by mail or
personal conference.
(2) If the person requesting an administrative review is a minor,
that person shall be permitted to appear at an administrative review
or admit responsibility for a toll evasion violation without the
necessity of the appointment of a guardian. The processing agency may
proceed against that person in the same manner as if that person
were an adult.
(3) (A) The administrative review shall be conducted before a
reviewer designated to conduct the review by the issuing agency's
governing body or chief executive officer. In the case of violations
on facilities developed pursuant to Section 143 of the Streets and
Highways Code, the processing agency shall contract with a public
agency or a private entity that has no financial interest in the
facility for the provision of administrative review services pursuant
to this subdivision. The costs of those administrative review
services shall be included in the administrative fees authorized by
this article.
(B) In addition to any other requirements of employment, a
reviewer shall demonstrate those qualifications, training, and
objectivity prescribed by the issuing agency's governing body or
chief executive as are necessary and which are consistent with the
duties and responsibilities set forth in this article.
(C) The examiner's continued employment, performance evaluation,
compensation, and benefits shall not be directly or indirectly linked
to the amount of fines collected by the examiner.
(4) The officer or person authorized to issue a notice of toll
evasion violation shall not be required to participate in an
administrative review. The issuing agency shall not be required to
produce any evidence other than the notice of toll evasion violation
or copy thereof, information received from the department identifying
the registered owner of the vehicle, and a statement under penalty
of perjury from the person reporting the violation. The documentation
in proper form shall be considered prima facie evidence of the
violation.
(5) For a toll evasion violation that occurs on a vehicular
crossing or toll highway where the issuing agency allows pay-by-plate
toll payment, as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 23302, the
officer or person authorized to issue a notice of toll evasion
violation shall not be required to participate in an administrative
review. The issuing agency shall not be required to produce any
evidence other than the notice of toll evasion violation or copy
thereof, information received from the department identifying the
registered owner of the vehicle, and a statement from the officer or
person authorized to issue a notice of toll evasion that the tolls or
other charges and any applicable fee was not paid in accordance with
the issuing agency's policies for pay-by-plate toll payment. Any
officer or person who knowingly provides false information pursuant
to this paragraph shall be subject to a civil penalty for each
violation in the minimum amount of two hundred fifty dollars ($250)
up to a maximum amount of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500).
An action for a civil penalty may be brought by any public
prosecutor in the name of the people of the State of California. The
documentation in proper form shall be considered prima facie evidence
of the violation.
(6) The review shall be conducted in accordance with the written
procedure established by the processing agency which shall ensure
fair and impartial review of contested toll evasion violations. The
agency's final decision may be delivered personally or by first-class
mail.