Opinion: How can state justify traffic fine shakedown?
Publisher’s note: This editorial is from the Feb. 25, 2011, Sacramento Bee.
Unwilling (in the case of most Republicans) or unable (in the case of most Democrats) to approve new taxes, state lawmakers are squeezing citizens to raise revenue in less obvious but nonetheless onerous ways.
We are talking about soaring traffic fines that have nothing to do with deterrence but all to do with revenue generation. They cause disproportionate harm to students and people of modest means, and they undermine our system of justice.
Three years ago, it would have cost $371 if you were caught by a red-light camera failing to make a complete stop before turning into an intersection.
Today, that same violation costs $470, a 37 percent increase. Is the crime 37 percent more egregious? Or are state and local governments, the courts and other publicly financed enterprises that support themselves with these fines just more desperate?
Desperation is the answer.
Anyone could have seen this coming. I predicted this about a year ago. It is going to get worse. Despite the denials by law enforcement officials, the attention to traffic stops has increased as well as the fines. As far as causing “disproportionate harm to students and people of modest means”, that is rediculous. If they are the ones breaking the laws, that is hardly the governments’ fault. If you are aware that law enforcement is paying more attention, so should you. It might even reduce accidents.
Right on, Dumbfounded.
I get SO tired of sitting at green lights waiting while a string of cars is making left turns while running their red. And yesterday we were almost in an accident when the car in front of us stopped to let a jaywalker who had been in the suicide lane cross in front of him. There was a crosswalk with a traffic light less than half a block away. Fine these fools.
Don’t complain, be smart, don’t break the law and save money.