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I think this is where I've been trying to get at it the whole conversation. What do you propose as the solution when someone does not pay a fine owed for a citation?

 

If someone cannot afford it -- the payment would be postponed.  Or they can work a payment plan out with the court, at no additional cost.

 

Why no additional cost?  I mean this would cost some money, right?  Probably less than putting a man in jail for some 60 odd days racking up crazy costs to collect $200 tbh (and additional 1000's of dollars to a private company)  A lot less in fact.

 

Now if someone can afford it, and is willfully not paying, then fees would rack up.  But if you can prove to the court that it'd cause an economic hardship, then you could either postpone or create a payment plan.  


Why should someone pay more, because they can't afford it?  It'd be like saying "Oil Change, $40.00.  Unless you can't afford it, and then you can make monthly payments of $20.00 until you pay us an additional $40.00  plus a fee of $15.00 for a device we will put on your car to make sure we can find you.  So if you can't pay us for ten months, don't worry about it!  It'll only be $255!  Oh and we've put an anchor on your car.  If you want to drive it home, you have to get an oil change."


In fact this system incentivizes police going after poor people.  Because they get more money out of them.  Why write tickets to Mr. Rich guy who'll pay you $200.00 for speeding, when Mr. Poor guy will end up paying $400 for that same ticket.  Go for poor neighborhoods.  You'll make more money!


It's like Civil Forfeiture (which John Oliver also talked about) where they can take money if they suspect it's going to be used for a crime.  They don't have to have proof, or even arrest you.  They just take the money.  And then it belongs to the police department.  Why wouldn't they stop people and look to see if they have any money.  "Oh, you have $500 in your glove compartment?  I bet that's going to be used for drugs, so I'm going to have to seize it."

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