Less than $1000 fine per theft? Seems perfectly reasonable to me. Comparing a $750 fine to chopping off hands is interesting, though.
The point wasn’t that they were directly comparable, viz. that being charged $27k + interest (it was $750 per song, not $750 total) was the same as losing a hand.
The point was that we don’t chop hands (ala many Islamic countries) for stealing because it is too much.
We shouldn’t charge $40k for “stealing” 37 songs. It is too much.
You think being fined in excess of $40k is fair for stealing $46.25 worth of retail value? (assuming $1.25 per song, as in my post above).
Let’s break this down another way. Let us assume that a CD has 12 tracks (yes, it can vary; but the number seems pretty typical). 37 / 12 = 3.08. So, let us take the ceiling of that and go with 4. What if she shoplifted 4 CDs? Would you say that crime is worth $27k + interest?
Hint: there is no way that petty larceny would garner a fine that steep.