From David Galland in Casey's Daily Dispatch:

In the past, I have touched upon the need of the government to ratchet up its revenues by pretty much any means necessary. An article by Radley Balko in the current edition of Reason magazine titled “The Motorist Tax” underscores that point in an eye-opening way.

Here’s an excerpt….

California has added a $26 ‘penalty assessment’ for every $10 of some traffic fines. The assessment can turn an already steep $70 fine for not wearing a seat belt into a nearly $200 citation. A red light infraction can run as high as $500.

In Virginia in March, state police carried out Operation Air, Land & Speed, a mass ticket-writing campaign explicitly aimed at bridging the state’s $2.2 billion budget shortfall as well as helping the state apply for federal highway safety grants. The campaign issued nearly 7,000 tickets in three days.

In the Old Dominion, going as little as 10 mph over the speed limit can trigger a ‘reckless driving’ charge and a $2,500 fine.

… Indianapolis, meanwhile, is trying to protect revenue from traffic fines by discouraging motorists from fighting unfair tickets. The city has taken to slapping administrative penalties of $500 to $2,500 on motorists who unsuccessfully challenge traffic citations in court.

This viewing of the public as serfs of the state can only, in time, create a public backlash. At that point, maybe the idea of “Of the people, for the people, by the people” will come back into vogue.

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