P2P

32 P E E R T O P E E R : I L T A ' S Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I N E | F A L L 2 0 2 1 as with other platforms like your website. Integration costs and time vary depending on how complex the platform is. • Multiple citations: Courts need to be able to handle cases that involve one driver with multiple citations, such as a speeding ticket in combination with driving without a license. Otherwise, you run the risk of double jeopardy. Not all ODR systems can handle more than one citation per person, so it's critical to find out early in the discovery process. • Cost: Some platforms charge a per-transaction fee to both the court and the ticketed driver. Other, no-cost platforms are free to courts and only charge offenders the standard convenience fee for processing a credit card. • Reporting: You want an ODR system that allows you to analyze trends and anticipate court needs. Learn what dashboards, analytics and other reports the system offers. Does it provide both high-level and detailed reporting? Does the platform allow you to see metrics for and insight into all cases in your jurisdiction? • Security: Ask providers how data will be pushed to and pulled from your other systems and if there will be any downtime. Learn whether the system provides access control, creates data backups and deploys strict security measures to keep your data safe. Each ODR system's security infrastructure is unique and has different certifications, so be sure to confirm your court's requirements with your IT department. O D R S H E L P B R E A K B A R R I E R S T O J U D I C I A L E Q U I T Y In America, a speeding ticket is issued every second, per Credit Donkey. Plus, there are other traffic tickets issued for reckless driving, failure to stop at a red light, driving without insurance, driving under the influence and more. The average traffic ticket cost of $152 will hurt anyone's budget, but it especially impacts low-income drivers. If the motorist doesn't appear in court or pay the ticket, there could be additional fees and higher insurance premiums. It could even result in a suspended license or jail time, which could affect their ability to earn an income and pay their fines. Unfortunately, it becomes a never-ending cycle because new fees are adding up as the person is less and less able to pay the original fine. Many in the legal community feel that the judicial system is not doing its job when someone has to choose between losing work income to go to court or having other fines and consequences piled on because they chose to take care of their family. The result is that, as social justice advocates note, traffic fines and license suspensions criminalize poverty, and communities of color are disproportionately affected. The Free to Drive campaign is fighting to end license restrictions due to the inability to pay fines, and 16 states and D.C. have already enacted reforms. Additionally, the Driving for Opportunity Act would end debt-based license suspensions through legislation and government funding. ODRs help in this push for equity because they eliminate the need to go into a courtroom. Non-video ODR also allows people to fight their case on their schedules, so they don't miss any work. ODRs help provide more access to justice – no matter the person's income level, geography, ethnicity or race. ILTA F E A T U R E S

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