I found this quote by UsedBranFlakes and it is thought provoking.
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That meant that leaving a note was not enough if a "reasonable person" would opine that the damage was $250 or more. ...but that was back before our Police departments became para military and were a slot machine of sorts for the County or City. You see, the courts got $40-$70 for each case (a lot back in the 80s and 90s) and the fines were usually $100-$200. A good judge taking guilty pleas could knock out 10 cases in an hour! Most people just paid the fines. Most of those were for speeding and people were guilty. Now a ticket is issued for everything because it generates revenue.
...and in some cases the brotherhood of attorneys know that fighting a case is good for their economy and many prosecutors are (smartly) advising that a defendant hire a defense attorney. I heard it in NC and GA a LOT! One prosecutor won't even talk plea bargains to the defendant in NC unless the person shows up with an attorney."
Do you agree that the modern justice system is more about money than justice in minor cases? I do and here is my reasoning:
Paying money to the state is no form of punishment; rather it serves to financially injure the already poor people. The rich can pay the fine and walk away without a scratch, but for those that are stretching every penny, it isn't a punishment, it is a near impossiblity.
Suppose that person was struggling to care for his family and was on his way to a second job, running late and went a little over the limit and along comes supercop and cites the already late person for a 10-over infraction. Now, the money is one thing, but now he is very late and may lose his job. Next up is the fine, which come be a very high, very hard to pay fine and then that is backed by the insurance compnay who, again, will fine the insured man for an additional three years.
The already struggling man now has more to pay, more to worry about, less money coming home for his hours away.
Now, I am not saying one should go unpunished, but there are always other options available rather than the money. Why not offer community service, probation with less fines, or a combo of the three.
County employees that perform meanial tasks are paid alot of money for jobs of no skill. Why not issue the fine-- say $100, then have it deducted at a rate of $5 per hour? Thats 20 hours of labor vs the labor cost of a county employee. There are some that will quickly point out the liabilities of doing this, but with proper preperation of papers, a waiver can be signed releasing the county/state of any liablities, right? And, no taxes to pay on employees.
Maybe I am just babbling, but there do seem to be other ideas than just using the police to scrounge up revenue for the county and state and using the courts to do it.
What are your thoughts? Would you prefer to do a little labor or pay up? Maybe a little mix and match?? Or is my medicine causing irrational thought?

