If I were a rich man…
Yesterday we were leaving the gym and we noticed a man in a full suit stepping out of his Mercedes and running into the tanning salon with tanning lotion in hand. Problem? He had parked his car in a fire lane! Ryan was so incensed that he called police non-emergency and the police department was more than happy to send someone out to give the nice rich man a big fat ticket.
On our way home Ryan told me that he thinks a fire lane ticket is something like $500. (Small price to pay considering the fact that if there was an actual fire, the fire department wouldn’t hesitate in ramming the cute little Mercedes with the fire engine) $500 seems like a lot of money to me. But would $500 be a good lesson to a man who obviously believed he should be afforded special privileges due to obvious wealth? Probably not. He would pay the $500 without flinching and maybe curse the police for wasting his precious tanning time.
So if I were to jump into politics, I think I might suggest a reform to the way fines are assessed for minor violations. I think we should come up with some sort of formula that takes into account the severity of the offense, the total holdings of the guilty party, and the annual earned income of the guilty party. I bet Mr. Mercedes would think twice and maybe park 15 feet to the West in an actual parking spot.
must be getting rough down there if people in phx are going to tanning salons rather than just sitting on their porch. guy musta wanted a nap…
i think you would have a tough time getting people to agree to increase fines for every infraction based on income. it kind of flies in the face of equal treatment or equal punishment for equal crimes. what usually happens instead is that a judge will REDUCE a fine if it turns out that the offender is financially incapable of paying or if it would be an unreasonable burden. like getting a $150 traffic ticket and you work for $5/hr plus tips as a pizza deliverer. that’ll most likely get reduced if u show up to court and ask.
unless of course you’re from out of state. in that case u’re screwed!
Well of course no one would be for it. But in THEORY it makes sense. Why even have a punishment if its not going to be a deterant. What’s to stop the rich guy from parking in a fire lane in the future? Nothing. Its like the occasional news story you see about thus and such famous person getting in trouble and being fined $1500. So what? Compared to the millions they have, why should they care about $1500?
at least they have to pay something. have u heard about the UN delegates in NYC that double park all over the city but never pay parking tickets because they have diplomatic immunity. drives the mayor and the city police nuts! =D
That’s some crap! You’re here, abide by our laws people.
inzane must have seen the two CSI Miami episodes on the diplomatic immunity discussion! HA!
I looked up the fine here in TX… and it’s 34 f**cking dollars! Can you believe it? It should be way higher.
Seriously, why even have a fine if you’re only going to make it $34?! That’s so dumb.
How you doing Alexis?!
Being eaten up by the financial aide monster and getting ready for summer school…. how are you doing Mrs. Graduate??
Summer school! Boo! That stinks. Hang in there girly.
I am completely enjoying my new-found freedom!
Laying by the pool, drinking beer, reading like crazy, baking, cooking dinners, its AWESOME.
Summer school! Boo! That stinks. Hang in there girly.
I am completely enjoying my new-found freedom!
Laying by the pool, drinking beer, reading like crazy, baking, cooking dinners, its AWESOME.
actually, i think i got that one from seinfeld. or was it government class back in high school? hmmm….