man with a gun wants your money
police told to write as many tickets as possible
states
using the police to raise money
Cash strapped state are finding an easy way to get more money
By lilwonders
@lilwonders456 (8214)
United States
February 10, 2009 8:07pm CST
They are getting it from you. But not by raising your taxes. They are stepping up on tickets. the police have been told to write as many as they can to get more revenue up in the state. Broken tail light? Going 5 miles over the speed limit? Don't count on getting a pass on any of it anymore. They are also raising the fines on all violations.
Motorists in Pensacola, Fla., saw fines for parking in front of a fire hydrant or in a fire lane skyrocket from $10 to $100 — a 900 percent increase — after the city's Downtown Improvement Board reportedly unanimously approved the hike earlier this month. Statewide, speeding fines also increased by $10 this month, along with an increase of an additional $25 for exceeding the speed limit by 15 to 29 miles per hour.In California, the cost of a "fix-it ticket" nearly tripled on Jan. 1, meaning that drivers in the Golden State can pay up to $100 for having a broken headlight.
So watch out for speed traps, make sure you park correctly, and make sure all the lights on your car work properly. Oh and wear your seat belt. They will be out actively looking to write as many tickets as possible.
What do you think of states doing this to create income? Especially sence the stimulus bill that just passed will send a lot of tax dollars to them.
2 people like this
5 responses
@mscott (1923)
• United States
11 Feb 09
I think they should just go back and check the tax filings of all the politicians. Obviously they have been stealing from the government for quite some time. If 4 of them who have been in the news lately have all been found to owe do you think they were the only 4? Probably all of them get freebies and such that they never claimed and still owe money for.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
11 Feb 09
I agree....they want a lot of money fast....then audit the politicans. Most of them do not think they have to pay them....taxes are only for us "little people".
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
13 Feb 09
My Mom got a ticket just the other day for being "too far away from the curb" even though the car didn't go out into traffic and the snow bank wouldn't allow her to get closer.
We were out of the car for around seven minutes, too...they're like ninjas, I swear.
The ticket wasn't too bad, six bucks, but it really ruined our day.
I didn't know it was happening to more extremes in other states, though. =(
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
11 Feb 09
Governor Schwarzenegger is such a jerk. He fixed the state alright, he cut more than half of the employment to just about everyone in this state. Golden State we are not right now, thank to our Governor of California, we are screwed!
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
11 Feb 09
We have that up in Winnipeg,MB. Canada, they put up cameras at most intersections and we call it a cash cow. So I was wondering did any of the officials down there come up here to get pointers as to how to raise money or to soak your taxpayers? I wonder. 
Yes the money has to come from someone. Unfortunately the someone is you the tax payers. I guess you all have to be very careful. I do not think it is a good idea. Maybe a one percent but nine hundred percent is a bit too much.
Yes the money has to come from someone. Unfortunately the someone is you the tax payers. I guess you all have to be very careful. I do not think it is a good idea. Maybe a one percent but nine hundred percent is a bit too much.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
11 Feb 09
According to my information, the increased activity isn't something mandated by the state of Florida but individual municipalities may have taken it upon themselves to step up enforcement on their own.
We have a huge bridge crossing the river at the edge of our tiny town down here. It's the only major road through town and the speed limit goes from 65mph to 45 to 35 when you reach the crest of the bridge, which is the city limits. Our deputies sit in various locations, including the parking lot of my business with our permission, shooting radar at the vehicles coming into town over that bridge. One of the motorcycle cops stopped by our shop this morning so I asked him about this. He told me that he hasn't been informed of any change in their normal schedule for shooting the bridge. They shoot morning & evening commuter traffic on a rotating schedule and off & on during the weekends. He did say that, yes, the fines have gone up but that was mandated by Governor Crist (and his tan) and is not something the individual counties have control over. They were not instructed to write more tickets...they don't and never have had a quota and they will still give a local a break.
