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| strangers in a stuffy room, watching outdated | | | | |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