http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...0,853103.story

Huntington Beach has become the first city in the state to offer traffic school for bicyclists who break the law.

The city's police officers now give cyclists the option of going to court and paying high fines or going to traffic school. Some counties, including Santa Cruz and Marin, offer traffic school for bicyclists, but court permission is required first. In Huntington Beach, violators will not need permission or go to court if they elect to take the city's offer.

Unlike the much longer traffic school for drivers, the Police Department's Adult Bicycle Safety Program takes two hours, said Lt. Russell Reinhart. Since the program began late last month, Reinhart said, most of those cited have gone the traffic school route. Ten people opted for the class the first day it was offered, he said.

Violators are charged $50 to cover the cost of the class, which also waives any other fees or fines.