California has in the past faced criticism over its court systems, which have been described by some as revenue generating machines, with the low income earners often being the first casualties. "California has sadly become a pay-to-play Court system," said Michael Herald, a legislative advocate, according to the Daily Republic. Herald helped author a damning report last month on how more and more Californians are finding themselves in a cycle of unending traffic debts that cause many to have their driving licenses suspended. An incredible 4.6 million driver's licenses have been suspended since 2006 by motorists who either failed to appear in court, or pay their traffic debts.

Brown hopes that the amnesty program will bring relief to poor California residents who have traffic debts, kwqc reported. "It's a hellhole of desperation and I think this amnesty can be a very good thing to both bring in money, to give people a chance to kind of pay at a discount," said Brown last week. The amnesty program in California has been tried in Los Angeles previously, where a driver's license would be returned once he or she agreed to clear payments for their debt.