Posted on 04/14/2005 8:45:45 PM PDT by dnewman
In Franklin county, if you don't drive 5 - 10 over the speed limit you are obstrucking traffic. This particular morning I was passing a truck and was doing 15 and this was when he clocked me. I usually only drive 5 over. The issue however, is not the speeding ticket as I clearly stated before my issue was with the FEES and where the money was going.
I ain't gonna pay it! haha
We now have a "speeding in a residential area" fee, that is $200, on any ticket.
Ohio has a reputation for gouging travellers on the highways, especially the Turnpike. 65mph? Please. The highway is designed for 80mph. The Ohio Highway Patrol is a revenue collection squad.
By the way, Ohio is a hotbed for radar detector manufacturers... I wonder why?
Fees are the least offensive of the lot inasmuch as one notionally receives some service (administrative or otherwise) for the fee, albeit one that could be had at a much lower rate in the private sector, and the government employee whose salary you already pay, acts as though he or she is doing you the biggest favor in the world while performing that service.
Fines and taxes are both levies assessed by the regulators so that you may act within their bailiwick of regulation (i.e., earn income, own property, purchase goods and services, exceed the speed limit, etc.)and perform those activities which they regulate. Sometimes these are compounded with Fees when you have to defray the administrative cost of receiving a license to perform an activity (i.e., work in certain professions) which is then taxed.
As far as I can tell, the fundamental difference between taxes and fines is that fines are usually much lower.
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