Why is the cost of speeding tickets so high, is there a tier that relates to the over the miles per hour?
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The reason I ask is that many people tell me how much their speeding tickets were, and I was literally shocked! Does the State even care if people can afford to pay for these tickets? I must be living in another world, because I did not know a ticket could be so HIGH! Is this even legal to charge people so much for a speeding ticket?
Answers to this question:When I got speeding tickets in New York, there was a base fine, and an over miles surcharge to the fine. I am not alone in calling traffic fines a mostly revenue generating scam, lacking in a genuine concern for the safety aspect. I once chose to appear in court in a little central New York town to challenge, or at least try to get out of a fine. It was after I had recently been laid off. I told the clerk of courts that I did speed, but it was only to pass a truck that was not letting me pass him in the passing lane. The truck kept speeding up and slowing down in front of me. The judge fined me $180, and told me to pay it by a certain date. I told him I had recently lost my job, and the date was my birthday. He said, "Oh, it's your birthday," and gave me another two weeks in which to pay. He also asked me if I could pay it by then, so he was working with me somewhat.
I always recommend taking your case to court. In America, we always have the right to petition charges against us (I think...but that may be less true now than ever before). Also, just like with the IRS, you should never just let the other party, whether that is an arm of government or a restaurant that double charged you for a meal roll over you without opening your mouth and trying to fix the problem. People would be surprised how effective it is to make a show of protest. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't, and often you get some compromise.
Thankx for your input Gregory.
Texas has a very similar system to what Greg described in New York, with a base fine with tiers for higher miles over the speed limit. We do have something called Defensive Driving class which you can take for about $25.00 in lieu of paying the ticket. Proof of that class will dismiss the ticket and lower your car insurance. The catch is you can't take that class more than once every two years.
Thankx Jean, I was told that it is mostly a money generating scam by officers who have nothing else to do with their time?
It's actually illegal in Texas for a city or incorporated area to get the majority of their money from speed traps, so I don't think that's happening here since the state made that law. The reason for the proportional fines is that it's is proportionally more dangerous the farther over the speed limit you are going.
You know, there's a saying that if you can't afford to do the time, you shouldn't do the crime. Choosing to obey or not obey speed limits is totally volitional ... "Excuse me officer. But it was totally an accident that I was going so fast." Well, there is the exception of a faulty accelerator. But how often does that happen.
I'll say I'm sorry just to be nice, but really I think that if drivers exceed the posted speed limit and get caught, they shouldn't complain. And whatever the law enforcement agency involved has decided is a fair fine is a fair fine.
Consider this, those speed limits are posted for our safety and not to keep us from doing whatever we want ... although it might seem like it. Studies are done concerning the grade, tilt, and curvature of the road. Also taken into consideration is how many roads let onto the road, how many businesses have exits onto the road and how many traffic signals there are. Personally, I'm inclined to let others do the hard work of those studies and happy that they have figured out for me how fast it is safe to go.
In Arizona, it is illegal to travel at anything over 85 MPH anywhere at any time. You do not get a ticket and a fine if you are caught doing this, however. You are put immediately into jail and your car is impounded. I know of two people to whom this has happened. They were not happy about it it. But really, they should not have been going that fast in the first place.
Dianne, I agree with you that many people go way over the speed limit and shuld be reprimanded with the legal fine.
The question was why are these fines so high? And is there a tier? Where does the tier begin? at 5 mls over the speed and continue every 5 mls above that? Does it vary from State to State, County to County? or what? Someone just told me her husband was told to give out as many speeding and other tickets as he can and when he was stopped for no reason, while driving in someone's else unmarked vehicle, he told the officer that he was wrong and what he was doing was against the citizen's rights, he was called to the carpet, and almost lost his job. Now he looks at that with a totally different view LOL!
Ah, yes Marcia, you are correct. I did not answer the question specifically as you asked it. But I did that knowingly. I used your question as a means to speak about a pet peeve of mine ... which as you are now undoubtedly aware is speeders. :) I've never wondered about how the fines are determined where I live in Yavapai County, Arizona or the towns and cities I drive through regularly because I am very careful to adhere to the posted speed limits. So I can not actually answer your question. Now I'm just being petty. :) I seem to be in an impish mood today.
Highway robbery is an apt expression; the roads are spiderwebs for criminals- with -badges, who descend on silk strands, to trap and suck drivers dry.
Prohibitive fines fill state and local coffers with desperately needed cash.
apt expression indeed Paul. Thankx for the input.
Total Answers: 5, Total Page Views: 256.well the higher percentages of people doing it then the fines go up and it is a proven fact speed kills. This is in alberta canada.
That's a thought to be considered Shelley. Thankx for the input.
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