That'll be 10% of your annual income please
By p1kef1sh
@p1kef1sh (45681)
January 8, 2010 3:18pm CST
A man in Switzerland has recently been fined £180,000 ($230,000 US) for driving 35 mph over the sped limit in a village. The fine is based on a percentage of his annual income. He's a millionaire. This strikes me as an admirable way to pay our dues. As I have no annual income I presume that I'd have to find a minimum amount, but if I was earning £50,000 pa then why shouldn't I get hit where it really hurts if it will force me to pay heed of the law. Of course I also believe that the law is an a$$ most of the time too - however, is this something that you think is fair. The rich pay more etc.
3 people like this
23 responses
@benny128 (3615)
•
9 Jan 10
well why should someone who has loads be penalised lol,
gotta dis-agree on this one am afraid, I don't mind him paying more taxes if he is a high wage earner,
but don't agree with different laws for different people if someone earning very little gets fined £60 but someone on 40k a year pays £600 that seems one law for each person.
1 person likes this
![](/Content/images/ajax-loader.gif)
@benny128 (3615)
•
9 Jan 10
well the financial penalties won't make anybody think twice when I have in my younger days been caught speeding when I didn't earn a lot of money and got 60 quid fine did it put me off doing it again nope lol,
the financial implications are irrelevant 10% of anybodies wage no matter if you are rich or poor is not the issue.
If you go over the speed limit by a certain degree then you should be banned from driving that will be more a punishment than a financial one.
Plus the speeding fines only go into the police pot they don't help the nhs schools or hospitals they just go towards more speed camera's and pay the chief constables wage lol,
So guess we have to agree to dis-agree and its taxing the rich and punishing the rich if thats the case theres no point in anybody working hard and succeeding if they are just going to get hammered.
Happy mylotting,
1 person likes this
![](/Content/images/ajax-loader.gif)
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
12 Jan 10
That sounds reasonable to me. I have heard rich people laugh at the idea of being fined because it is just pocket money to them. My father's boss used to speed all the time and thought nothing of being fined, he was a millionaire. His attitude was that the fine was a small price to pay for him using the roads like a race track. 10% of the annual salary is a significant deterrent but possibly even that is not enough for people like him.
Now they also have demerit points and loss of licence which is much more significant. I think that the fine is important but it has to actually deter them.
![](/Content/images/ajax-loader.gif)
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
13 Jan 10
Now that is a good idea. He loved his cars and it might have deterred him. There again he might just have gone out and bought a new one. Even loss of licence does not deter some people. I am shocked at the number of people who continue to drive after their licence has been taken off them. They just don't care. Going to prison is the only thing that will stop them from driving.
1 person likes this
![](/Content/images/ajax-loader.gif)
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
11 Jan 10
Hi there P1ke
Ok I would like to say that is fair as they have more money then sense but looking at it with eyes open no it is not fair, he should have been charged the Penalty and points on his License
He did speed highly yes but then he should have received double points or even his license removed for 3 months or something like that but not be charged a percentage of the wages
@littleowl (7157)
•
9 Jan 10
Hi p1ke,
As I don't drive it makes no difference to me, but saying that yes I do beleive that the rich should pay more if they are breaking the law however it may be wether driving, drinking etc etc after all they have the money to pay and so they should it would teach them a lesson that being rich and having money does not affect the law...hugs LoLo
@suzzy3 (8341)
•
10 Jan 10
I think that is a wonderful idea.It will make people think twice before they speed in their car.So many accidents are caused by speeding drivers and something must be done.No one seems to take any notice of the speeding laws in our country and what ever works.As long as the fines are used to repair the roads and put pedestrian crossings in.Great.
![](/Content/images/ajax-loader.gif)
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
9 Jan 10
yes thea maybe next time the rich idiot will slow down. he he he.
![](/Content/images/ajax-loader.gif)
@nannacroc (4049)
•
9 Jan 10
I think it's a great idea. It's nice to hear the rich have to pay in other countries.It couldn't happen here though as, if you have enough money, our legal system can prove you're innocent even if a policeman saw you commit the crime. Justice for all as long as you have the money to pay for it.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
9 Jan 10
I think this is an excellent idea. Too many wealthy people seems to think they are above the law.
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
9 Jan 10
You know, I kind of like this idea. Sometimes those tickets are just too much to pay and they really don't offer many ways to pay them off. However, those that are rich that have to pay a $100 speeding ticket are just getting their hands smacked when those that make less are truly feeling the hurt. I think that they should be charged more if they can afford it because maybe they'll think twice about breaking the law the next time.
@dawnald (85147)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Jan 10
The law should say for him to pay a % of his annual income to Dawn in California. good law ![](/Content/images/emotes/thumbup.gif)
![](/Content/images/emotes/thumbup.gif)
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
9 Jan 10
Hey p1key! I must admit right up front that I am so bad with
numbers But, I do believe that those that are the richest should
definitely be paying more taxes! I might not be good in math,
but even I can figure that out! Of course, I feel that they
should pay more, if they make and take more! I make nothing,
so take nothing, you would think! But, No! The USA Government
gives me a tiny bit of money and thinks that I should pay
$447 for Medicaid, which is the beyond poor people's medical
insurance in the USA, meaning "try find a doctor or clinic
to help you"! "ENOUGH SAID"!!!
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
9 Jan 10
The US medical system, which I pay into Opal as I have to cover my daughter, is most complex and unfair. If you qualify it's amongst the best in the world, but if you aren't eligible then you can die on the street. Personally I think that it should be free at the point of delivery, paying for it should be the least of the sick person's problems. You never know, you might have a fairer system soon. But it sure as heck isn't going to please everybody.
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
8 Jan 10
Interesting concept. If my income was from stocks and investments...and with the poor economy I'd actually LOST money...does that mean if I sped through this village and got caught, that they'd pay ME?
I can see this place becoming the next 'hot spot' for the rich and famous. I wonder how many times some of them would have to get caught to break even for the year?
Other than that small loophole, since the rich like to pay more for everything (homes, clothes, vacations, etc) why shouldn't they pay more for fines? Makes sense to me. I can see speeders in junky cars being waived through, so the police can concentrate of upscale cars. Remind me if I ever hit Powerball and go to this village, to rent a clunker to drive. As long as there's a good sized trunk for my chocolate chip cookies...
@MJay101 (710)
•
8 Jan 10
Serves him right, the tw4t. It's absurd to be driving so fast, and quite right that the penalty charge is so high!
I don't drive, but if I did, I can't think of any reason why I would want to speed at such a hideous rate. It's insane.
My other half was hit by a car at a bus stop; the car was driving on the wrong side of the road, the driver was uninsured and didn't have a licence, and was racing a taxi at high speed in a 20 zone. She now has an injury for life, whilst the driver escaped with a laughable penalty...
I think he should have been shot, but that's just me.
![](/Content/images/emotes/angry.gif)
@MJay101 (710)
•
8 Jan 10
That's sick... I'm sorry to hear about your aunt.
It does appear that the law is very much on the side of the motorist, regardless of the offence. I do wish they would impose serious penalties.
On the other hand - my Mum (yes, my Mum) was caught "speeding" at 82 mph on an empty motorway in an old four speed Fiat Uno (yes, a Fiat Uno) that I swear had a top speed of 75 mph... Three points on the (clean) licence and an £80 fine.
It's ridiculous. ![](/Content/images/emotes/angry.gif)
![](/Content/images/emotes/sad.gif)
![](/Content/images/emotes/angry.gif)
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
8 Jan 10
10 % before or after taxes?
way too much either way.....soon we will sit home and be afraid of any movement.
can we go back to happy time in 60's and 70's?
I don't mind percentage, but 10% is crazy....
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
8 Jan 10
The rich should be fully expected to pay a lot higher in fines than us peasants. I mean, they seem to think cause they have money, they can get away with murder among other things.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
9 Jan 10
hi pikefish yes i do think that it is fair, we should be fined according to our ability to pay, and the millionaire might well
remember next time to pay attention to the speed limit.Yes I guess as I have never even been close to being rich money wise anyway I do not feel a bit sorry for the rich who do not heed the law. mean old me,he he he.![](/Content/images/emotes/thumbup.gif)
![](/Content/images/emotes/thumbup.gif)
![](/Content/images/emotes/happy.gif)
![](/Content/images/emotes/thumbup.gif)
![](/Content/images/emotes/thumbup.gif)
![](/Content/images/emotes/happy.gif)
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
8 Jan 10
Hi p1key,
I do believe that the should pay more as they should not be breaking the law, yes at same time I agree that the law is an a$$.Hugs.
Tamara
xxxx
@stonerhurley (22)
• United States
9 Jan 10
I think they need to make an example of rich people like this. Show those rich b*tches that they can't get away with everything and only get a slap on the wrist.
Damn celebrities and rich people
![](/Content/images/loading.gif)