SANTA ANA, Calif. — An accused man requested a court trial Thursday in Orange County Superior Court after repeatedly seeking clarification about the total fines associated with three traffic violations without receiving a clear answer from Judge Eric Scarbrough.
When the accused asked how much he would have to pay in total, Judge Scarbrough responded, “I’ll let you do the math.”
The accused faced three traffic violations stemming from a Sept. 10, 2026, incident, including driving without a valid driver’s license, failing to display two license plates and operating a vehicle with material obstructing the windshield.
At the beginning of the arraignment, Judge Scarbrough read each charge and its corresponding fine while the accused stood alone at the podium. The judge then asked about the status of the violations.
The accused explained that he had obtained a valid driver’s license since the incident and presented it to the court.
After Judge Scarbrough verified the license, the bailiff returned it to the accused.
When questioned about the license plate violation, the accused explained that he possessed both plates but had attached only the rear plate.
Judge Scarbrough reiterated that California law requires vehicles issued two license plates to display both the front and rear plates.
Turning to the windshield obstruction violation, Judge Scarbrough identified window tint as the source of the citation.
When the accused asked whether he needed to remove the tint, the judge confirmed that he did, explaining that leaving it in place could result in another traffic stop.
The accused then asked how much he would owe in total for the three violations.
Rather than providing a combined amount, Judge Scarbrough repeated the individual charges and their associated fines.
“Then there’s a $30 processing fee for each charge,” the judge added.
After hesitating, the accused asked, “So, $700?”
“No,” Judge Scarbrough responded, without providing the total amount.
The exchange ended without a clear explanation of the combined fines and fees, despite the accused’s repeated attempts to determine how much he would be required to pay.
The accused subsequently requested a court trial.
Judge Scarbrough scheduled the trial for Dec. 9 at 1:30 p.m.
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