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| stuffy room, watching outdated movies and wishing | | | | traffic schools to be licensed through the DMV, a |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