[jacksonpt]

There is an interesting thread going on at another board I watch about whether or not someone should fight a speeding ticket. Seems there are 3 sides to the debate:
- absolutely fight it... work the system as much as possible to get out of it
- if you were picked on or have a good excuse fight it, otherwise pay it
- you broke the law, be a man and pay the fine

I'm in the latter group. If you break the law and get caught, suck it up and pay the fine/take the points. You've gotta be accountable for your actions.

Your thoughts?

 

[Tenchiro]

If and when I ever get a ticket, I will go to court and pay the fine.

I look at it this way. Cities depend on funding from traffic & parking violations so much, that if nobody broke the rules taxes would have to be raised. So really everyone who speeds is just performing their civic duty, and making sure that taxes do not get raised for everyone.

 

[LordOpie]

I would never go to court myself. That's a waste of time. In Florida, there were plenty of lawyers who'd go for you for $100, guaranteed to get the ticket dismissed. I used 'em three times myself and have no ethical issue with it.

Work the system.

 

[jacksonpt]

If and when I ever get a ticket, I will go to court and pay the fine.

I look at it this way. Cities depend on funding from traffic & parking violations so much, that if nobody broke the rules taxes would have to be raised. So really everyone who speeds is just performing their civic duty, and making sure that taxes do not get raised for everyone.

So in a manner of speaking... people who go to court to fight their tickets are responsible for taxes being raised? At least the people who fight and win?

 

[Slugman]

FIGHT IT!!! :nuts:

Not so much b/c of the civic fines, that is typically the least costly item... what gets you are all the surcharges from your insurance company.

In CA you can pay the fine, and do an online traffic school test which cost you more $$$- but then it doesn't show up on your record. It's totally worth it, I made my wife do it when she got a ticket (since I pay the insurance!)

 

[LordOpie]

So in a manner of speaking... people who go to court to fight their tickets are responsible for taxes being raised? At least the people who fight and win?

I think he's advocating that we all speed and break traffic laws

 

[LordOpie]

my problem with traffic fines is they aren't fair.

a $100 speeding ticket to a guy who makes $10/hr is far more painful than a guy who makes $200k/yr. Aren't punishments supposed to be a deterent?

 

[Slugman]

If and when I ever get a ticket, I will go to court and pay the fine.

I look at it this way. Cities depend on funding from traffic & parking violations so much, that if nobody broke the rules taxes would have to be raised. So really everyone who speeds is just performing their civic duty, and making sure that taxes do not get raised for everyone.

Hmmm... So does that means that I can speed in rich neighborhoods?

I have a real problem with a municipality depending on tickets as a source of income... lends itself to corruption and abuse of power.

 

[valve bouncer]

my problem with traffic fines is they aren't fair.

a $100 speeding ticket to a guy who makes $10/hr is far more painful than a guy who makes $200k/yr. Aren't punishments supposed to be a deterent?

It does seem unfair Loopie, the alternative view obviously is that the law should be applied equally. The answer to your question would seem to be a non financial penalty option for poorer crew.

 

[Tenchiro]

There are some countries that levy fines based on your income.

 

[LordOpie]

It does seem unfair Loopie, the alternative view obviously is that the law should be applied equally. The answer to your question would seem to be a non financial penalty option for poorer crew.

Like, get a fine, work for the state at $20/hr to pay it off?

Or perhaps what Tenchiro posted about income?

 

[ALEXIS_DH]

Like, get a fine, work for the state at $20/hr to pay it off?

Or perhaps what Tenchiro posted about income?

naah, south american style. you pay "fines" directly to the cop depending on the car you drive, your age, and the address in your licence.

so, when i was 14-15, and drove an old toyota corolla i´d pay after haggling about 5 bucks. my dad (mid 50s) driving in his AMG would get an no-haggle $80 "fine". and probably a poor man from the suburbs driving a 20 year old car, would get a $3 fine-bribe.

now that is social justice!!! ,

but really, i have an entire ethical reasoning on why paying bribes is much better than paying fines in south america.

85% of the fines go to the pockest of lowlife high ranked generals or colonels to buy houses in miami or saint tropez.

the other 15% go the the police stations. so when i pay a bribe, i cut the middlemen, i give the money to those who really need and a deserve it (cops make less than $200 a month)., or i pay for 1 or 2 gallons of gas for their patrol cars, to keep them patrolling. (peruvian cops drive freaking 8mpg pathfinders and landcruisers IN the metro area!!!)

 

[SebringMGB]

i say suck it up and pay it.
on the other hand, there is another approach... dont get them in the first place. and there seems to be a trick to it. ive probably been pulled over 15-20 times, and i have 5 tickets (in as many years) whenever i get pulled over, i flat out tell the officer what i was doing wrong, and wether i had a reason or not i always just say "i was bein an idiot" or "you just caugt me red handed" and ill tell ya, 75% of the time the officer says "i apreciate you honesty, have a nice day". 1 i made a right turn on red, and rolled thru, and then went down the road and accidentally blew through another red. officer asked my why i ran the red light, and i started telling him bout how i didnt see it and it was too late by the time i did, but he was talking about the right turn, and never saw the other "incident" and thought i was bs'n him. the other was 45 in a 25 down the road to my hs, and the officer had 5 other cars pulled over, so i had no hope. the other 3, i wouldnt even let myself off if i was the officer, so no fault but my own (mind you i did get off doin 120 in a 60 on I90...)

 

[stevew]

Pay it.

 

[valve bouncer]

This is impossible to answer as each situation has its own peculiarities. Who knows what happened here. Each of the 3 situations can be possible depending on the circumstances.