County officials are setting up a program under which people who get traffic tickets can e-mail their excuses and explanations to a judge. Until now, they'd have to sit for hours in court, waiting for a hearing.

So far this year in the county, there have been more than 1,200 people who want to explain to a judge the circumstances surrounding their traffic tickets.

After reading the e-mails, the judges will send their reply either by e-mail, or an old-fashioned postcard.