Hertzberg proposes plan to reduce traffic penalties, restore suspended licenses

CalWatchDog ^ | 06 May, 2015 | John Hrabe

[artichokegrower]

Drivers who’ve had their licenses suspended could soon get a reprieve.

State Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, has introduced legislation that would reduce outstanding penalties and fines for drivers with a suspended license. In addition to reducing penalties, Senate Bill 405 would provide a method for drivers with a suspended license from a nonviolent offense to regain their driving privileges.

Hertzberg says that legislation is needed to help low-income residents who are caught in a Catch-22: They can’t pay their fines because they are unable to find or keep a job without a driver’s license.

“We are criminalizing the poor and dramatically impacting their lives with punishments that far exceed their crimes by slamming them with excessive fines,” Hertzberg said in a recent press release. “Then we take away their ability to get to work.”

[artichokegrower]

Drivers would also see their fines lowered based on a sliding scale based on income levels. The new fees would be based as follows:

20 percent of fine or bail for people with an income that is less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level 50 percent of fine or bail for people with an income that is between 150 and 200 percent of the federal poverty level 80 percent of fine or bail for people with an income that is greater than 200 percent of the federal poverty level

So your traffic fine would be based on your income level. So much or equal protection under the law

[MeshugeMikey]

It is.simply an “atypical business model.” *....

“atypical business model.” * recent description of the clinton foundation

[cuban leaf]

Drivers would also see their fines lowered based on a sliding scale based on income levels.

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When I first read that I was stupified. I remember back in the early 70’s (I was in high school) I proposed that idea but quickly retracted it. The reason: A covernment that wanted to acquire money would just ticket the “fancy” cars. It would become a success shakedown.

And here we see it in california. They tried making obscene penalties and it is backfiring. But instead of retracting it, they are basically just “soaking the rich” and keeping it.

It is a subtle form of class warfare and I would not be surprised if they intended it to go this way from the beginning.

My wife worked for Alaska airlines when we lived in Seattle. We used to do the Saturday six a.m. flight to Burbank, rent a convertible, and come home late that night. But after a while, what we saw going on down there caused us to, in essence, boycott the state. It is a putrid cesspool of concrete, asphalt and graffiti with protected enclaves of prosperity. It offended me to the core. But, unlike a liberal, if something offends me I just avoid it.

[BookmanTheJanitor]

I guess that means most traffic cops would sit in places/cities with higher incomes. It’s been about income collection (and not safety) for quite awhile.

[SECURE AMERICA]

OMG It friggin never ends. Lets just absolve the “poor” from any responsibility whatever and be done with it...... Here is an idea. They can not afford to pay the fines then how about they don’t break the law?

[Svartalfiar]

First off, most of these tickets are simply there for revenue generation, do nothing for safety.

Secondly, the fines on these are outrageous, and should be dropped a ton.

Finally, when you go talk to the DA, most of the time they’ll work with you to somewhat lower the fine, especially if it poses a hardship.

[zzwhale]

EXCUSE ME ..... doesn’t the CRIME preceed the suspension...
hey how about not committing THE CRIME....
LIBTARD POLS WILL LICKTHEBALLS of criminals and scofflaws and illegals to get elected...
HEY DOUCHEBAG .....WE ARE A NATION OF LAWS....
or i should say ...we used to be.......