Sliding scale for traffic offenses?

[RoeBear]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=15&u=/ap/20040210/ap_on_fe_st/finland_speeding_fine

"HELSINKI, Finland - Police gave a record $216,900 speeding ticket to a millionaire under a system in which traffic fines are linked to an offender's income.

Two years ago, Anssi Vanjoki, then executive vice president of Nokia 's mobile phones division, landed a $148,000 ticket after being caught doing 46 mph in a 31 mph zone on a motorcycle."

When I was 19 I thought a sliding scale would make sense. I was pulled over for speeding and got a $50 ticket, just about half of my life's savings at the time. Didn't seem fair.

[unblock]

1. having known many to flaunt traffic laws with impunity,....

the idea of a $216,900 for speeding is, of course, shocking, but:

(a) i grew up in the snobby end of town (in the cheapest house around) and quite a number of high school jerks would flagrantly speed and shrug, big deal, dad can afford more tickets than i can possibly get.

(b) i've known plenty of lawyers who similarly flaunt traffic laws. they're at the courthouse enough anyway, it's no big deal for them to show up and talk their way out of it.


so the idea of having a fine that actually stings even for the superrich is not quite as horrible as it sounds.


that being said, it would NEVER fly in this country!

[iverglas]

3. don't you people lose points??

Up here, "x" number of points and you get counselled, "y" number of points and your licence is suspended. And of course your insurance rates go nuts for every little thing.

A few years ago, I watched the driver of the Jag who had been tailgating me on a 2-lane highway (when I was doing over 100 kmh in an 80 -- 65 mph in a 50 -- to start with) get pulled over and ticketed after he passed me, and I honked and waved gaily. He passed me again shortly afterward. I figured he wouldn't be driving that thing too much longer.

That's even better than a big fine -- turn their expensive motor toys into big lumps of useless metal sitting in the driveway. ;)

.

[MrSandman]

5. Some insurance companies tie rates to points...

the fine one keeps on paying and ...

[jhfenton]

20. Yes, Ohio does have a points system...

exactly as you describe. I assume many other U.S. states do as well. The points should serve as a deterrent regardless of income.

[iverglas]

2. sliding scale for speed limits

Just my own hobbyhorse.

One's speed limit in kilometres/hour should be one's IQ.

The person with the bang-on average IQ would then be required to keep below 100 kmh (62.5 mph), the average-stupid morons wouldn't be able to go over 55, and the real dullards in the bottom third of the population would have to stay off the expressways altogether. (The rule would only apply to expressways; nobody gets to go over 50 in a 50, etc.) Leaving much more room for me to cruise along at, well, I wouldn't actually go over 90 mph much, even though I could do it if I wanted.

Then I'd be happy to have my tickets tied to my income. ;)

.

[RoeBear]

6. Hey if they let you drive...

...your words per minute on a keyboard, I'm betting you would be a blur on the highway.

[demsrule4life]

7. ROFLMAOF

[alwynsw]

9. Is it the cold weather?

My wife taught in public schools in Kentucky until she retired in 2002. According to her, the average IQ among her students here in bassakwards Kentucky is about 110 (Stanford-Binet). Perhaps you might consider sending your kids to a good old Kentucky public school.

[jhfenton]

19. I like that idea! (eom)

[MrSandman]

4. Some states have a sliding scale posted...

Based on speed, not income. PA used to have it posted a the border.

ed. fer spellin...s

[alwynsw]

10. I almost got one of those BIG PA fines once

Let's just say that I had a mild case of food poisoning and although the cop didn't believe that I was looking for the nearest rest area on the PA Turnpike, he eventually sniffed out the truth. He voided the citation form when he had it about half finished and apologized. He also recommended a "while you wait" dry cleaner.

on edit: typo typo typo

[RoeBear]

11. Ewwww!

too much information

[alwynsw]

12. Aw shit! Sorry.

[beevul]

13. What a...

PANTLOAD!!!:evilgrin:

(on edit...I just couldn't resist)

[alwynsw]

14. Actually, it was a steaming pantload.

February is a cold month in PA. :hurts:

[MrSandman]

16. ROFL

I didn't see that post going THERE

[alwynsw]

17. The saddest part of all? It's true!

[CO Liberal]

8. And 100 Days In The County Jail...

...if you're a Republican Congressman from North Dakota and you run a stop sign, killing a motorcyclist.

[MrBenchley]

15. Seems like with the GOP

the scale slides the other way, doesn't it?

[DavidMS]

18. And that's why I don't like warm blooded reptiles who wear expensive suits

(Like Norquest, Bush, Delay, etc.) They think the laws apply to everyone except them.

A sliding scale for trafic violatons seems to have merit. As world a sliding scale for workplace safty-violations (fines should be tied to net revenues).

[pnb]

21. Lousy idea

The points that can cause you to lose your license and increase your insurance rates are enough. A fine should be a fine no matter who's getting it. What's next? If we do this, we may as well do the same thing with jail sentences also...somehow make them proportional to the life of the convicted...hell, a one year sentence to an old man is much "worse" than one year for a 20-year old in terms of probable percentage. Should the youth get a longer sentence then? This seems like a similar concept to me...and just as ridiculous too.