Debate Breaks Out Over Virginia’s $2,500 Speeding Tickets
The State of Virginia decided it could raise money for road repair by imposing gargantuan traffic fines. Now, over 100,000 people have signed a petition to repeal the $1,000 fines.
A citation for driving 20 miles per hour over the speed limit could get you a $1,050 fine. The New York Times reports that judges can impose fines of up to $2,500 plus court costs for violations considered to be reckless driving. Stephanie Haley said “this is going to hit the poor the worst because they will be least able to handle such a huge fine. Someone living paycheck to paycheck is going to be wiped out by a small mistake.” She got a $250 ticket for driving 86 mph in a 65 mph zone the week before the new fines took effect. Lucky her.
The regressive nature of the fines is a primary argument against Virginia’s barely hidden tax increase. Someone earning $100,000 per year will be inconvenienced by a $1,000 ticket. A driver making only $15,000 per year could be wiped out by the same ticket.
There is a working model for Virginia and every other State to follow, in Finland. The Wall Street Journal reported on Finland’s traffic fines in 2001. In that Scandinavian country, traffic fines are progressive. Jaako Rytsola, a 27-year-old Finnish internet entrepreneur and newspaper columnist, was cruising in his BMW one recent evening. He was pulled over doing 43 mph in a 25 mph zone. He got a ticket for $71,400, based on his offense and his income. Erkki Wuoma, special planning adviser at the Ministry of Interior, said Finland progressive taxation and punishment is a “Nordic tradition.” Most Finns agree the system is fair.
A police officer, having stopped a driver for a violation, taps into Finland’s tax records to discover the offender’s net income and assigns a fine accordingly. The driver’s monthly net income is reduced by 1,500 Finnish marks ($235) (Prior to adoption of the Euro) and that total is divided by 60. This figure is supposed to represent a person’s daily disposable income. A driver can be fined between one and 120 days of disposable income. For driving 20 mph over the speed limit, a driver would normally be fined 12 days disposable income.
An error in judgment while driving should not cost a working person more than a high income earner. Any offender should feel an equivalent punishment for his mistake. This could be easily implemented in the USA. An officer could give a driver a citation with a fine “level.” The actual dollar amount could be accessed by internet, comparing a driver’s offense and his net income filed with the IRS.
Call your governor to promote progressive traffic penalties.
