By Long Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq.
Governor Gavin Newsom has implemented a speed camera program in California, even though many residents believe it is in large part a cash grab scheme. The controversial cameras are present in 19 states and prohibited in 9 states. Proponents argue these camera programs are a speeding deterrent, however in San Francisco there is a new "equitable" element incorporated into the program that is antithetical to the very purpose of the law.
Speed camera program offenders in San Francisco will pay fines proportionate to their income. Low income violators will receive up to a 50% percent discount in fines and homeless violators will receive up to an 80% discount. The purpose of the law is to deter speeding and thereby decrease accidents and injuries. By offering income based fine discounts, it effectively encourages speeding among certain people instead of discouraging speeding. Not only is the income of the offender completely irrelevant to the violation itself, it is ostensibly inequitable and will likely result in an increase in accidents and injuries. This is especially true in that statistics indicate that up to 80% of those incarcerated are from low income backgrounds.
In addition, such an inequitable program may well open up a criminal Pandora's Box that could lead us down a very dangerous slippery slope. If reducing punishment for speeding is acceptable today, what will be acceptable tomorrow? Perhaps such a future will include income based sentence reductions for those who steal, assault or even murder. Will low income murderers, instead of being sentenced from 20 years to life, receive a sentence of 10 years or less with good behavior? If you think that isn't possible, remember how for the last 4 years countless criminals were allowed to illegally enter our country despite our immigration laws prohibiting such entries. Several years ago dumping water over the heads of our police became acceptable and that escalated to burning down a police station.
Laws are necessary to keep order and civility in society. If these laws are ignored, unenforced or have punishments that are arbitrarily reduced by Governors with higher political aspirations, our society will degrade at an alarming rate. Hopefully, this is something that both political parties can agree upon.
Long Island Lawyer
Paul A. Lauto, Esq.
www.liattorney.com
Governor Gavin Newsom has implemented a speed camera program in California, even though many residents believe it is in large part a cash grab scheme. The controversial cameras are present in 19 states and prohibited in 9 states. Proponents argue these camera programs are a speeding deterrent, however in San Francisco there is a new "equitable" element incorporated into the program that is antithetical to the very purpose of the law.
Speed camera program offenders in San Francisco will pay fines proportionate to their income. Low income violators will receive up to a 50% percent discount in fines and homeless violators will receive up to an 80% discount. The purpose of the law is to deter speeding and thereby decrease accidents and injuries. By offering income based fine discounts, it effectively encourages speeding among certain people instead of discouraging speeding. Not only is the income of the offender completely irrelevant to the violation itself, it is ostensibly inequitable and will likely result in an increase in accidents and injuries. This is especially true in that statistics indicate that up to 80% of those incarcerated are from low income backgrounds.
In addition, such an inequitable program may well open up a criminal Pandora's Box that could lead us down a very dangerous slippery slope. If reducing punishment for speeding is acceptable today, what will be acceptable tomorrow? Perhaps such a future will include income based sentence reductions for those who steal, assault or even murder. Will low income murderers, instead of being sentenced from 20 years to life, receive a sentence of 10 years or less with good behavior? If you think that isn't possible, remember how for the last 4 years countless criminals were allowed to illegally enter our country despite our immigration laws prohibiting such entries. Several years ago dumping water over the heads of our police became acceptable and that escalated to burning down a police station.
Laws are necessary to keep order and civility in society. If these laws are ignored, unenforced or have punishments that are arbitrarily reduced by Governors with higher political aspirations, our society will degrade at an alarming rate. Hopefully, this is something that both political parties can agree upon.
Long Island Lawyer
Paul A. Lauto, Esq.
www.liattorney.com
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