Don't you think courthouse is a money making place?
By clorissa123
@clorissa123 (4926)
United States
September 10, 2009 3:48pm CST
Yesterday, I accompanied a friend of mine to the local court house. She was charged with speeding and "do not stop at stop sign." He went to court because usually they will reduce the fine if you appear on the court date. He pleaded all charges guilty and was fined with $300 for both tickets.
For 2 hours I was sitting there, most people violate the similar conducts, and some people even drink and drive, or drive without licenses. Majority of them were charged big bucks and a warning to be released. Sometimes, these charges were charged outrageously, and some people just couldn't afford it. Is charging fine the only way to deter violations? Or the local government simply want to raise up more money?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@cbakin20 (149)
• United States
11 Sep 09
The way they do it around where I live is that you can often get community service hours instead of fines. Sometimes you can even pick which one you would rather do. I do think, though, that the government is trying to make as much money as they can off this and they do make some of the fines outrageous. But some of the people deserve it, especially if they are charged for a DUI or have gotten fines many times before.
@clorissa123 (4926)
• United States
11 Sep 09
Well, those reckless drivers or people who drive without a license might deserve this fine. Other people, I think they were purely rip off from many cases. For instance, speeding and did not stop at stop sign, they were charged up to over $100 to $200 or more. That fine could feed a family for whole week.
@cbakin20 (149)
• United States
11 Sep 09
I know, it is outrageous. I can't understand how this is still legal. I mean, I understand that they're breaking laws and it is dangerous, but there is a natural consequence to breaking a law like that: an accident. Let them learn the hard way. Making them pay the government money isn't helping them learn anything, it's just making them mad at the government and more likely to try to break laws on purpose.
@rmorefield (941)
• United States
10 Sep 09
The county I live in is famous for fining people. They have actually started sending out Animal Control officers to pick up dogs that are out in their owners' yards. When the people go to court, the judge drops the charges, but then the people are charged up to $800 per dog to get them back. They call it "the cost of upkeep for the animal." Now, call me crazy if you will, but I don't think that it costs $800 to feed one dog for a month or two. And the people who work in the shelter are volunteers, so they don't get paid. Who is getting this money I ask you? The local officials. It is pure extortion. I cannot wait until I move away from here.
@clorissa123 (4926)
• United States
11 Sep 09
that is purely rip-off from your local government to local residents. I couldn't deal with it if that really happen. I suppose that local government is to help people instead of ripping people's money off. What type of government we rely on?
@rmorefield (941)
• United States
11 Sep 09
I'm not sure that we can rely on our government. They tell us what we want to hear until we elect them, and then they operate for their own benefit. It's all about the money. We need to rely on each other and help out our neighbors.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
10 Sep 09
Hello Clorissa my dear, what a strange courthouse situation you do have over there, why do they need to make it so complicated. Here if someone is caught speeding by a nice young policeman the fine is given on the spot and can also be considerably reduced by paying it on the spot, so the courthouse can be reserved for the more important business of land rights which run on for decades.
@clorissa123 (4926)
• United States
11 Sep 09
That is the law of the local states, and within the local city, what can we do about it? We just abide by the law, and go with it. Money is the ultimate issue that a government is looking for to solve a problem.
1 person likes this
