I'd overhaul the way we handle fines and fees in the criminal justice...

I'd overhaul the way we handle fines and fees in the criminal justice system. Specifically, I'd cap them at a percentage of someone's income rather than a flat dollar amount.

I saw this firsthand with my cousin. He lost his license for six months because he couldn't pay a $300 ticket for a broken taillight. He was already working two jobs to keep his family afloat, and without a car, he couldn't get to either one. He ended up losing one job, falling behind on rent, and eventually his car got repossessed because he couldn't make payments. All because of a $300 fine that was no big deal for someone with a steady income but was basically impossible for him.

The system is supposed to be about accountability and fairness, but flat fines just punish poverty. Someone making $200,000 a year doesn't even notice a $500 ticket. Someone making $20,000 might have to choose between paying it and buying groceries. That's not justice, it's a regressive tax on being poor.

I'd make fines proportional to income, similar to how some countries do it with speeding tickets tied to your salary. It would still hurt, but it would hurt proportionally. And I'd also eliminate all the hidden fees and surcharges that pile up into these crushing amounts. If the goal is to make people follow the rules, then the punishment should be the same for everyone, not different based on their bank account.

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Perez Uriel @urielperez3665

my cousin went through almost the exact same thing with a expired registration ticket. $250 fine he couldn't pay, lost his license, then his job cuz he couldnt drive to the warehouse. it's like the system is designed to keep people trapped. the income-based fine idea makes so much sense idk why we dont already do that
13 hours ago

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