“This suggests the cities are using their code enforcement powers for ends other than public protection”
Speed traps for revenue raising have been around a long time.
Maybe we just follow the Constitution and eliminate all these fines that exceed $20 and require Jury trials just like it says.
This is basically my problem with “Sin Taxes”
When the sin goes away the government has to find another vice to persecute
So-called “Sin Taxes” if imposed, should not go into government coffers
As a Texan who well remembers the Selma days, I can tell you that most small towns with speed traps are as crooked and corrupt as the day is long.
“Burdening the poor with vexatious fines—which potentially lead, if people are unable to pay their fines, to imprisonment—is bad for society. A new study from the Institute for Justice, “The Price of Taxation by Citation,” demonstrates the serious consequences not just for unfortunate citizens who have harmed no one, but for civic peace in general.”
No kidding? Whatever money they spent on this was obviously well spent.
I’m sure this was written by Professor Obvious.
It got so bad in Mississippi that they passed a law in the 70’s making it illegal for a town with less than 2500 people to use radar. Every podunk town was dropping their speed limit to 25 mph and funding their coffers from the revenue. Unfortunately the law is poorly worded and towns use every loophole they can to work around it with the state attorney general granting them waivers. As soon as they get the waiver they go out and buy radar guns & start raking in the money.
If states took the money from traffic tickets from the towns and pooled it and then evenly distributed it, I would bet there would be a 90% drop in Traffic tickets.
What’s scary is just think of all the police, town DAs, judges, etc who know perfectly what they doing is BS and they are hurting and scamming people, and yet they do it anyhow. It’s sad there’s actually more than enough people in this country who lack morals and shame to eagerly do these jobs.
Dam shame it’s the 90% of police officers who are corrupt that give the other good 10% officers a bad name
Don't break the law.
</FR_bootlickers>
Start the recall petition now