Vehicles: commercial driver's licenses: traffic violator school.

Existing law provides for the licensing and administration by the Department of Motor Vehicles of traffic violator schools, operators, and instructors. Existing law authorizes the court, after a deposit of bail and bail forfeiture, a plea of guilty or no contest, or a conviction, to order a continuance of the proceeding against a person who receives a notice to appear in court for a violation of a statute relating to the safe operation of a vehicle, in consideration for completion of a program at a licensed school for traffic violators. The court is authorized to order that the conviction be held confidential, unless the person holds a commercial driver's license or the violation occurred in a commercial vehicle. The court is prohibited from ordering or permitting a person who holds a class A, class B, or commercial class C driver's license to complete a licensed traffic violator school. Existing law requires that no violation point count be assessed if the record of conviction is confidential. The driving privilege of a person whose driving record shows 6 or more points within specified timeframes is subject to suspension or revocation. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime. This bill would allow the court, after a deposit of the specified fee or bail, a plea of guilty or no contest, or a conviction, to order or permit a person who holds a class A license, class B license, or commercial class C driver's license to attend a traffic violator school for a traffic offense while operating a vehicle requiring only a class C or class M license. The bill would specify that the record of conviction in any 18-month period would not be confidential, would require that the record of conviction be disclosed to insurers for insurance underwriting and rating purposes, and would not count as a violation point for determining whether a driver is presumed to be a negligent operator, unless a specified condition applies to the offense.