Worth repeating for Yucaipa residents who violate the cell phone law

YUCAIPA - A local Yucaipa Valley SUN reader sent this question to Michelle Pearl, who answers motorists' questions in her popular "Drive Time" that appears in the SUN. It's worth repeating.

Question from Walter H. of Yucaipa: "I thought that a ticket for talking on a cell phone was only $20. When I got my ticket in the mail it was nearly $80! How can they do this?

Michelle's Answer: You have just received a crash course in ticket fines and penalty assessments, Walter.

Here is the anatomy of a typical traffic fine:

First you will have to pay the base fine which is determined by each individual city. Then, you will need to pay the state penalty assessment, which will be equal to or greater than the base fine. Then there will be a county penalty assessment added onto the tab, which averages nearly as much as the base fine.

But wait, there's more! Once the state court security fees, conviction assessments, surcharges and other fines are added on, the price of your original citation will most likely be nearly quadruple the original base fine.

Thank you Michelle for informing those drivers who continue to violate the law that prohibits the use of handheld mobile phones while driving in the state. And Yucaipa has its fair share who think they are above the law.

Send your questions to Michelle at drivetime@inlandnewspapers.com. Some readers questions will be answered in the SUN in print. Drive Time can be found in the "A" section of the SUN.