| With the ease of doing business on the internet - | | | | walk-in traffic schools are losing a lot of business to |
| whether it's shopping for groceries, paying bills or | | | | online traffic school and this bill would increase |
| taking an online traffic course - online companies are | | | | requirements making it harder for online traffic |
| giving brick and mortar businesses a run for their | | | | schools to get approved." If the bill had passed, it |
| money. There's no better example of this than the | | | | would have required all online traffic schools to be |
| increasing popularity of online traffic school. Gone are | | | | licensed through the DMV, a lengthy process lasting |
| the days when individuals, hit with a traffic violation, | | | | between one and two years. Currently, online traffic |
| are forced to spend eight uncomfortable hours with | | | | schools must be certified before they are able to do |
| strangers in a stuffy room, watching outdated | | | | business and are added to the list of court-approved |
| movies and wishing the day would end. Online traffic | | | | schools. Certified by the National Traffic Safety |
| schools may well be the trend of today - and | | | | Administration and the Coordinated Courts System, |
| tomorrow. founder Travis sees this surge of | | | | Ticket Relief currently serves California (including Los |
| popularity with online traffic schools as a | | | | Angeles and San Diego counties), Texas (in |
| phenomenon that will only grow, eventually leading to | | | | partnership with Continued Ed) and Florida (in |
| the end of the walk-in traffic school. "Traffic school | | | | partnership with American Institute). Ticket Relief's |
| online is a growing trend and soon, I believe, that | | | | partners are certified by the DMV. Certification, |
| walk-in traffic will be obsolete. Taking traffic school | | | | however, is a thorough process that requires online |
| online is quick, easy, and convenient," he says. In | | | | traffic schools to meet legal, curriculum and |
| fact, statistics for online traffic schools are promising. | | | | grammatical standards with its course materials. |
| In 2004, for example, more than a third of the | | | | Ticket Relief's course materials run between 100-110 |
| 500,000 people ordered to complete traffic school in | | | | pages. With the rising competition from online traffic |
| Florida did so online. Ninety perfect of those who | | | | and defensive driving schools, walk-in traffic schools |
| completed the online traffic course passed the final | | | | are often forced to step up their performance, if |
| exam. An administrator at East L.A. Community | | | | they want to stay in business. Many walk-in traffic |
| College Service, who requested her name be | | | | schools, particularly in Los Angeles, offer incentives |
| withheld, recognizes the advantages of online traffic | | | | such as comedy and pizza. Still, pizza and a few |
| school, citing students can complete the course at | | | | laughs is often not enough enticement for forgoing a |
| their own convenience. She, however, disagrees that | | | | Saturday afternoon when individuals can complete |
| walk-in traffic school will one day disappear | | | | Los Angeles traffic school online in as few as six |
| altogether. In fact, she hasn't yet noticed a big | | | | hours in the comfort of their own homes. |
| difference in attendance." We have noticed it has | | | | Furthermore, online traffic schools like Ticket Relief |
| somewhat decreased. It (online traffic school) looks | | | | are poised for major growth in the next few years, |
| like it's doing very well, but it's not affecting us very | | | | a move that could have a major impact on the way |
| much," she says. As for the future of traditional | | | | drivers do business. "Ticket Relief will continue to |
| walk-in traffic schools like East L.A. Community | | | | grow until it covers all 52 states. Ticket Relief is also |
| College Service, she doesn't think they're going to | | | | looking to venture into other driving related services. |
| disappear anytime soon. Attendance will "decrease, | | | | Some of the services are: ordering a copy of your |
| but it (walk-in traffic school) won't be a thing of the | | | | driver license record, reducing your insurance rate, |
| past." Travis, however, believes the future of the | | | | renewing your driver's license, and offering a |
| walk-in traffic school is bleak, pointing to California bill | | | | membership with exclusive member benefits. Ideally, |
| AB2377. Initiated by Democrat Assemblyman John | | | | I would like customers to come to for all their driving |
| Longville, the bill sought to require the licensing of all | | | | needs," Travis says. Ticket Relief offers online driving |
| online and home study traffic schools by the | | | | classes in California, Florida and Texas - students can |
| Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Governor | | | | register and begin the course immediately by visiting |
| Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill in September | | | | Listed as a Los Angeles County court-approved |
| 2004. Still, the very fact that the bill even made it to | | | | traffic school, East L.A. Community College Service |
| the governor's desk may indicate that all is not as | | | | offers eight-hour traffic courses twice a month for |
| rosy as it may appear for walk-in traffic schools. | | | | $30. To sign up for one of their two monthly classes, |
| "From what I understand about the bill, "Travis says," | | | | call 323-265-8794. |