Friday, June 26, 2015

Traffic Fine Amnesty

Some of you may have read they're making changes in the administration of fines being levied for traffic violations. I'm not too clear on the exact details but generally they're talking of reducing fines for poorer folks and giving alleged violators the chance to contest their tickets before paying the fine (it was news to me it worked that way), among other things.

This is a good thing. As the Sacramento Bee's Dan Walters points out, it's often not just the fine itself that ends up causing the problem. It's the additional taxes and fees that are added to the fine, sometimes multiplying the cost up to five times the original penalty. This leaves drivers, especially poorer ones, in sometimes inescapable situations. It can ruin their lives.

Decades ago I used to be big supporter of fines for just about anything. I recall when attending the C/R Police Academy telling others that fines are the way to go. They bring in revenue, and violations are punished- the best of both worlds. But that was likely before they kept adding fees and taxes to pay for any number of things they didn't want to pay for in other ways.

Governor Brown has it right:  “I have found even a $50 ticket unpleasant enough,” he wrote in rejecting a fine increase three years ago. “Upping the fines may satisfy the punitive instincts of some, but I severely doubt that it will further reduce violations.”

That's spot on, and I've seen any number of proposals for increasing fines from average folks. They never consider those fines might end up being applied to them and then their life ruined.

I still support fines, but I'm glad they're taking steps to make this right and a bit more reasonable.
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I recall reading comments in the Santa Rosa Press- Democrat from those advocating stiffer fines for any number of traffic violations, specifically, talking on cell phones while driving. Raising the fine for a second violation to $1000.00 wasn't out of the question. I had to ask, do you really think ruining someone's life is appropriate for talking on a phone?

There's only one instance where my punitive instincts take hold and I'd go for a fine that high for talking on the cellphone. Niceness be damned: 

Those of you that get done shopping, get into your car, grab the cell phone, start talking and drive off. I've seen that happen more than once. If you really have to make that call, sit there in the parking lot, make the call, then drive off. That's has to be one of the more outrageous things I've seen.

If there was a way to catch people doing that, I'm not sure I'd care how big a fine you get.

4 Comments:

At 8:30 AM, Blogger Julie Timmons said...

Concur 100%.

 
At 9:38 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sweet so if you make under a certain amount you dont have to obay the law. Awesome. So if i dont work i can drive while talking on the phone,drinking a beer anything i want. Love it.well im broke so tonight i will drive around drinking and talking on the phone.

 
At 9:46 AM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

Not at all. You still get tickets and fines. They're just trying to take the excessive fees away that can double or quadruple what you actually pay. A $100 fine often ends up at $200 or even $500, depending on what the offense is. This can be devastating to those barely making it and, if they don't pay the fine on time, their license can be suspended. If they can't drive, they can lose their job.

How exactly this will pan out, I don't know, but at least they're trying to correct an obvious problem with enforcement of traffic laws. That someone well off might pay more than someone not so well off, I'm not particularly happy with, at least in principle. But those well off might well benefit from reduced fees and surcharges, too. Too early to tell.

So don't get too upset. You'll still get a ticket, or even go to jail, for all those things you do while driving.

 
At 4:52 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

wow..good god .. i know you read what the article said and nowhere did it say get rid of fines for low income ..dude get it together

 

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