In what world is it OK to let people still get behind the wheel when they rack up five red light running tickets in three years?

The same world were up until 2025 drivers clocked going 100 mph or above — there are 1,600 issued in an average month pulled over by the CHP — were simply ticketed and released.

We’re talking the wacky world of the California Legislature.

The legislature — the very same people that made it illegal to run red lights — were upset that the $490 fines being slapped on drivers for violating the law were too draconian for low-income drivers.

They also apparently didn’t think it was fair they would have the need for traffic school or higher insurance rates for failing to adhere to the rules of the road.

So as of Jan. 1, 2026 all tickets from new red light camera systems installed in California are now considered misdemeanors instead of being a more serious moving violation.

The reason it was considered a serious moving violations, red light running is a leading cause of crashes and deaths in California’s intersections.

The legislature, apparently in a nod to how dangerous red light running still is despite kicking it down to a pesky misdemeanor, allows judications such as Lathrop that is now moving forward with red light cameras at five intersections, to adopt a sliding fine scale for frequent red light runners.

It is $100 for the first violation.

After that within a three year period of the initial violation, the second violation is $200 for the second violation, $350 for the third violation, and $500 for the fourth violation and for each one thereafter it.

If someone is racking up five red light tickets within three years there should be a real concern about whether they should be driving.

A more appropriate penalty would be impounding their vehicle as it should be more than apparent they have a wanton disregard for traffic laws and the safety of other people.

Speaking of impounding cars, speed kills.

So why doesn’t California law allow for police to automatically impound vehicles of any motorist caught driving more than 100 mph?

It wasn’t until 2025 in California that such drivers issued tickets were referred directly to the DMV for action instead of winding through the court system.

What really needs to happen is the impounding the vehicles of such drivers once they are stopped.

The year 2024 was particularly bloody on California’s roads.

There were 3,998 fatalities, up 34 percent from the previous year.

Now consider what happened nationally.

There were 44,000 traffic fatalities in the United States in 2024, down 1 percent or 82 less lost lives.

There are 260,000 traffic accidents in California every year, or 680 a day.

Speeding was a significant contributing factor in 32 percent of those accidents.

Now go back to that pilot program.

You will notice tickets are issued. There’s no mention of impounding the vehicle.

To be fair, existing California law allows the impounding of the vehicle of a driver going over 100 mph is combined with an infraction such as reckless driving.

Here’s a thought: What would happen if the California Legislature passed a law making it mandatory that any motorist caught driving 100 mph or above automatically has their vehicle impounded?

Anyone with such a wanton disregard for the law, and the safety of others, that drives 100 mph or above should have their car impounded on the spot even if they were “just speeding” and pulled over when a police officer turns on their lights and siren.

A 30-day impound with storage fees and such — plus the loss of the use of a vehicle for a month — should send a message.

It is much more effective than a ticket meandering through the court system or even it going directly to the DMV safety division.

Plus, what message does either revoking a license or suspending it send?

The driver still has his or her car.

If someone was going down the street randomly aiming a rifle at people but didn’t discharge it, would they be issued a citation and allowed to walk away with the gun?

There were more people killed by a car in California in 2024 than were the victims of homicide.

That is 1,666 homicide deaths — that excludes gun accidents and suicides and includes death by knifing, fists, and other means — versus 3,998 traffic fatalities.

More Californians are killed every year by cars than guns.

And 32 percent of those traffic fatalities are pedestrians.

Yet all of the oxygen in the legislative chambers is taken up by debating gun control laws while tough rules against deadly driving behavior — including driving under the influence — has become more relaxed.

Driving is not a right. It is a privilege.

Laws are in place for safety to avoid chaos on the streets.

It’s time that the California Legislature does its job.