Title
Remote Civil Traffic Hearing Pilot Program
Description
This report provides the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee with an overview of the Municipal Court’s pilot program to hold remote video appearances for people who receive traffic tickets.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
Traditionally, taking care of a simple traffic ticket in Phoenix has been a process that often required multiple, in-person appearances at the downtown courthouse. The pandemic provided a significant opportunity for the Court to leverage technology and move into the digital age. The goals were to conduct the court process safely for all participants, to streamline and simplify interactions with the Court, and to make the process of taking care of a traffic ticket as customer friendly as possible.
In the first significant change early in the pandemic, in-person appearances for arraignments were discontinued. While people with traffic tickets have always been able to pay those citations or request a hearing without coming to the courthouse, an arraignment appearance was required if the individual wanted to explore potential options for fine reductions or speak to a judicial officer about their case. Those interactions now take place remotely by telephone or online, enabling people to explore their options with court staff directly. This eliminated many thousands of in-person appearances.
Beginning in June 2021, the Court began piloting remote contested hearings. With this step, it became possible for an individual to fully address a traffic ticket - including contesting the ticket at a hearing before a judge - without ever traveling to the courthouse. Successful remote hearings are the culmination of many months of planning, preparation, testing, and collaboration with the Phoenix Police Department. Technology hardware was deployed in the courtrooms, as well as at certain Police Department precincts. Staff studied, tested, and implemented Webex as an appropriate interface so that all persons in the hearings have full view of other participants as well as the judge. Court staff designed simple procedures for the hearings and easy-to-follow instructions in both English and Spanish. Provisions are made for interpreters to appear as needed. To ensure that police officers are prepared to engage in the process remotely, the Police Department produced training modules.
Since rolling out the pilot program, the Court has received significant, appreciative feedback from the public. While the program has started small, the vision is to be the first large court in Arizona to hold remote video appearances for contested civil traffic hearings at scale. Assuming the pilot program continues to progress well, we anticipate making remote hearings available to all appropriate civil traffic cases in the first quarter of 2022. While we believe that most people will embrace remote appearances, any individual may decide to physically appear for his or her hearing, putting the choice about how to proceed squarely in the hands of the cited individual.
Staff believes that facilitating remote court appearances is the future and that building this infrastructure is about equity and fairness. People should not have to miss work, make extra childcare arrangements, or travel long distances for unnecessary in-person appearances.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Chief Presiding Judge B. Don Taylor III and Deputy City Manager Karen Peters.