The power to tax ... er, arrest

[Kulindahr]

They say the power to tax is the power to destroy.

Well, it appears that the power to arrest is more potent: all you have to do is arrest someone and prosecute, and the judge can order that someone to pay attorney's fees and all court costs -- even if you're acquitted.


Is there still a free country in the world somewhere?

 

[naked gent]

Same thing with traffic tickets.

If you are found "not guilty", you still have to pay court costs.

WTF

Maybe in your state but not in mine. Beat a speeding ticket last yr (as did everyone who showed up to contest the fine) and it didn't cost me a penny unless you count parking.

 

[Kulindahr]

In a civilized world, if a person is acquitted, here's who should have to pay the court costs:

violations -- the issuing officer
crimes -- the arresting officer and the prosecutor.

They should also have to fork over restitution to the innocent person for all the time wasted, plans screwed up, wages lost, etc.

 

[LaloGS]

As the federal giveback economy dries up, local administrations turn to preying on citizens to make ends meet. Increases in speed traps, broken tail light stops and loitering arrests increase. Many cities and states are turning to traffic cameras which have been shown to increase local revenues exponentially. The rubes never go to court, they get a summons in the mail with the photo showing they were speeding and just pay the fine. Additionally they are ordered to attend a drivers education class for additional money.

When government needs to prey on the citizens to survive, I'd say that government was doing something wrong not only by preying on citizens, but by mismanaging their resources until they begin to believe they have a duty to prey on citizens. Citizens have a vote to stop these predatory practices and should. Bad government should not entitle bad governors to prey on citizens.

 

[smelter]

^ a good example of this is street sweeping tickets. In my city they changed the times and cross streets to where its nearly impossible for people to find a place to park overnight. Police cars are out in force looking to ticket cars hours before the actual sweeping takes place and doubled the fine from $15 to $30. Street sweeping fines have now become a major source of revenue for the city and all coming from entrapping law-abiding citizens!

 

[LaloGS]

Using the photo speed traps, last year Scottsdale, AZ reported a $2,000,000.00 increase in revenues due to the $265. speeding fines, and additional $150. driver's education courses all the speeders were required to take or face losing their license. Scottsdale is one of the richest little cities in the country, yet feels the need to prey on its citizens. If I lived in Scottsdale, I'd be calling for the resignations and or impeachment of the city government for bad management.

During any rush hour on the freeways, the cameras are flashing constantly trapping speeders who are just maintaining the general speed of traffic flow. Slow down, and the cops pull you over for impeding traffic flow and issue a ticket with fine. There is no rationality to any of this activity, and it borders on government criminality (Government as a robbery conspiracy) in my opinion.

 

[Kulindahr]

^
An old, and pointed, quote:

What's the difference between the government and the Mafia?
The Mafia have a code of honor.