Just like income tax, I think parking ticket and other fine amount should be vary according to income. Based on income, rich people would have to pay more while low income class should pay less. It should hit people where it hurt so they would learn their lesson. I think it would be fair and everybody would respect the law, not simply BUY it.
2007-09-22 22:15:54 · 11 answers · asked by Huey L 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
CT - It is not about reducing the amount for the poor, but more like bigger fine for the rich. It was to say that if Paris Hilton had to pay $500,000 in parking violation, it would teach her something isn't it?
2007-09-22 22:27:39 · update #1
mild_irritant - I am not talking about Jail time sentence. It is money related penalty only.
2007-09-22 22:29:08 · update #2
westville sal - I know that, but $100 to some people, mean nothing and they would not mind committing the offense repeatedly.
2007-09-22 22:31:09 · update #3
copswife134 - How much $100 worthed to you? Now think how much does it worth to Britney Spear, Paris Hilton.
2007-09-22 23:13:25 · update #4
Dog Lover - The idea is having a fine that hurt people equally so everybody would respect and the law. It is the bad idea to give Paris Hilton a $75 parking fine and expect her "Learn the Lesson".
2007-09-23 01:03:04 · update #5
somebody's sister - Good point
2007-09-23 09:21:45 · update #6
lpdhcdh - I do not have problem with current system neither. I am talking about the system where you can not use money to buy the law.
2007-09-23 17:32:34 · update #7
All fines, not just parking fines should be like that.
The problem with fines is that a single mother on welfare would be hit very hard by a fine the likes of which a millionaire might not care about which creates a problem when it comes to determining how much a fine should be because if you set it high enough to hurt the millionaire and deter the rich guy it'll be too hard on the poor person while setting a fine that will hurt a poor person but not be too hard on them will result in the rich guy not caring about it.
This might result in some arguments over how much a person should get but it would go a long way to fixing the problems of inequality that fines present.
Besides, pretty much every civilised country does it in their tax system anyway.
2007-09-22 23:56:53 · answer #1 · answered by bestonnet_00 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have to say, the majority of the people who answered this question seem to think that this is not fair.
Your idea seems to be logical, however, I have to agree with everyone else.
Have you ever been to your local health department. This may seem like I am getting off on a tangent, but this has relevance. People at the health department are there because they cannot afford healthcare and are, therefore, underprivledged. I have been to the health department before and you wouldn't believe the things the people had there. Most of them were wearing designer clothing and shoes (things I know I wouldn't be able to afford), huge gold chains and earrings. Many of them were driving nice cars with lots of upgrades (such as rims and new fancy paint jobs).
My point is, there are some people who are legitimately poor, and then there are those who just cheat the system or spend their money unwisely. These people would not learn a lesson if they got a ticket of a lesser fine, it would just reinforce their idea of cheating the system!
2007-09-23 07:17:43 · answer #2 · answered by Somebody's Sister 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Apparently this is the system used in Finland. Some CEO got a $75K speeding fine. Fines are based as a percentage of income.
I really don't have a problem with the current system, but see how this could appear more equitable.
2007-09-23 14:22:23 · answer #3 · answered by lpdhcdh 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For a simple infraction, the costs of investigating each individual's income would negate any benefit. No matter how much someone's income could be, there still has to be a maximum for parking fines.
In Chico, CA, it's a $500 fine to possess a nuclear device, so it's hard to imagine that a parking fine could conceivably cost more than that.
2007-09-22 22:54:04 · answer #4 · answered by Marc X 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No, this is not a good idea.
So because someone is "poor" they should not have to be responsible for their actions? And this is like yet another silly Democratic Party program to pander to the lazy and let those who have worked had continue to support those who have not.
Hey, the real question here is why are people poor? Because they lack education and because they are lazy.
That itself should be a crime.
2007-09-23 00:50:56 · answer #5 · answered by Dog Lover 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Why? Just because you're poor you don't want to pay the same for violating the law? You violated the law so go pay the fine and stop being a crybaby.
2007-09-22 22:20:17 · answer #6 · answered by CT 3 · 2⤊ 4⤋
for any legal offense, it's important to have a consequence. rich or poor, if you break the law, you should have to pay. no one, no matter how rich, likes to give up money for a ticket.
2007-09-22 22:27:20 · answer #7 · answered by westville sal 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It's an interesting idea. But then you'll get some cops overlooking poor drivers and only pulling over the fancy cars.
2007-09-22 22:19:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
Quite possibly one of the dumbest ideas I've ever heard of.
2007-09-22 22:36:10 · answer #9 · answered by copswife134 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
So, based on your logic, if a poor person kills somebody, they should spend less time in jail?
2007-09-22 22:21:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋