California could erase most of its budget deficit by offering non-judicial fines for most petty, and some serious by non-destructive offenses.
People could go before a judge on the typical route, or they could pay a non-appeal administrative fine and walk out the door.
How many people would by $30,000 for a first time (only) DUI with no accident or injury? Instead of doing time in jail, losing their car or at least their license for six months, maybe being fired and losing their home, possible divorce and insurance through the roof, they can just lay down the money, once, and walk out the door.
Sure and the state could just add the $30K to their welfare payments...
Frankly, that is an terribly destructive idea. This State is so corrupt that the result would be selective enforcement of bogus crimes for political ends. With a discretionary power like that (a nearly total abrogation of the separation of powers principle), the State would use fines to drive landowners off their property and small business people out of their businesses in order to hand the land over to their friends.
We need less government dumb a** not more. How about Arnold use some of his muscle and get the legislature to stop spending and to cut taxes. More taxes are not what we need,especially onerous and illegal sh** such as you propose. Stop spending, cut taxes, the economy will heal itself. Get the government out of business and out of our everyday lives. We learned this lesson about 200 years ago and now we have it staring us in the face again. Down with big government and all career politicians.