IDS 2: IDS Fine Act (Passed)

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Something similar came before the senate a couple years ago. I didn't support it because I was afraid that police officers would unfairly target rich people in order to "meet quota." For example, it would likely be more worthwhile to pull over someone who is speeding in a Jaguar than someone who's speeding in a 15-year-old Toyota. Since fines have the dual purpose of punishing misdemeanors as well as generating revenue, I have a hard time supporting something that will force certain people to pay more for the same offense.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

At the expense of systematic corruption?

[HagridOfTheDeep]

There's an easy answer to the incentive problem: Don't use fines as a source of revenue. Destroy the money or send it away.

That's a nice idea in a vaccuum, but who's going to destroy money that could otherwise be used on programs to help people?

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I'm not sure. Duke's dilemma is basically what led me to stick with the status quo when we were voting on this in the senate.