Moving Violations is a 1985 American comedy directed by Neal Israel and built around a group of hopelessly mismatched drivers who end up in traffic school after losing their licences through a series of reckless and absurd driving offences. Starring John Murray, Jennifer Tilly, James Keach, Sally Kellerman and Fred Willard, the film leans heavily into broad 1980s ensemble comedy, mixing car chases, eccentric authority figures and a long string of escalating disasters. It is not one of the decade’s most famous comedies, but it has kept a modest cult reputation thanks to its anarchic tone and its very recognisable cast.
Filming took place in and around Los Angeles, and the production used a spread of Southern California locations rather than confining itself to one anonymous suburban setting. The AFI Catalog notes location work in Los Angeles, while location records tied to the film identify the traffic school scenes at the Brea Civic Center in Brea, the puppet-stage sequence at Craig Regional Park in Fullerton, and additional shooting in Downtown Los Angeles, including the Bonaventure area on Figueroa Street. Other identified locations place scenes in Long Beach and around La Puente, which helps explain the film’s shifting visual feel: parts of it have the look of a civic comedy set among municipal buildings and car parks, while other scenes open out into broader Southern California streets, parks and commercial districts.
The Donut Hole
The Donut Hole has appeared in Moving Violations (1985), Dragnet (1987), and Calendar Girl (1993).
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