In Jefferson City, MO on January 21 of this year, Senator Eric Schmitt sponsored a bill which seeks to lower the amount of revenue that cities can raise from traffic fines, from 30% to 10%. Schmitt said that, "We have created, in many ways, through these abusive traffic schemes and court fees... modern day debtor prisons," when people are sent to prison for being unable to pay their fines. This is particularly notable in St. Louis County, where he says that 50% of the state's traffic tickets are distributed, although only 22% of the state's population resides there. While on the outset this bill appears to be a step in the direction of equality, it is not the solution that will best serve the citizens of this state.To understand why this solution will not lead to equality, we must address the initial reasons behind this discrepancy.Many tickets are written in municipalities in poorer areas because of the sheer cost of owning and maintaining a motor vehicle. While personal property tax and registration fees are minimal, insurance costs are ...Continue Reading »The post The Proposed Cap on Traffic Fines: Why It Won't Work appeared first on Traffic Law Center.
