Fines linked to income?

[Steve H]

I was reading somewhere a while ago, where a woman in another country was given a hefty fine for speeding in her car.. something like 45k, which equated to her earning 500k + a year.

What do you think? Should fines such as speeding, etc.. be linked to the income of the offender?

Will this be yet another 'rich tax'.. or can it be justified that a person earning more money should be given a fine that actually affects them?

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Steve H

I was reading somewhere a while ago, where a woman in another country was given a hefty fine for speeding in her car.. something like 45k, which equated to her earning 500k + a year.

What do you think? Should fines such as speeding, etc.. be linked to the income of the offender?

Will this be yet another 'rich tax'.. or can it be justified that a person earning more money should be given a fine that actually affects them?

Fines should not be means tested, 45k for speeding is ridiculous.

[Steve H]

Originally Posted by Bifta

Fines should not be means tested, 45k for speeding is ridiculous.

Ridiculous for someone earning phenonomly less than the woman.. yeah. But surely fining this woman £60 (Usual SP30 charge) then it wouldn't affect her one bit.. If the person is accepting what they have done is wrong, and is willing to take a punishment.. then that punishments got to hurt her in some way ; £60 would not.

[SMHarman]

They already are in Scotland when I got caught for speeding there I got a £110 fine and £60 court fees and 3 points flagged SP30.

Income related is only fare if it is also means tested. If the 500k earner is spending 450k on a mortgage each year, then 50k is likely to result in them defaulting their mortgage, which is as unfair as a person earning 30k paying 10k a year for their mortgage being forced in a position they cannot pay it due to a fine.

What would be nice would be an option to buy point erasure. SP30 £60 and 3 points or £300 and 0 points.

[orangebird]

Originally Posted by Steve H

I was reading somewhere a while ago, where a woman in another country was given a hefty fine for speeding in her car.. something like 45k, which equated to her earning 500k + a year.

What do you think? Should fines such as speeding, etc.. be linked to the income of the offender?

Will this be yet another 'rich tax'.. or can it be justified that a person earning more money should be given a fine that actually affects them?

Yep, just another rich tax...why should someone who has pulled their finger out, owrked hard and got a bloody good wage have to pay more than some chav social scrounger who can't spell 'work' and has never paid a penny into the state?

If you want to affect the person speeding, take their license away...

[Tricky]

Originally Posted by Steve H

Ridiculous for someone earning phenonomly less than the woman.. yeah. But surely fining this woman £60 (Usual SP30 charge) then it wouldn't affect her one bit.. If the person is accepting what they have done is wrong, and is willing to take a punishment.. then that punishments got to hurt her in some way ; £60 would not.

On the same note though, if someone who didn't earn much or was on the dole would these be exempt from fines and therefore would flaunt the law because it wasn't going to cost them much?

[SMHarman]

No change to the current, pay it back at 25p a week then mentality and blow £28 a week on a 20 a day smoking habit then.

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by orangebird

Yep, just another rich tax...why should someone who has pulled their finger out, owrked hard and got a bloody good wage have to pay more than some chav social scrounger who can't spell 'work' and has never paid a penny into the state?

If you want to affect the person speeding, take their license away...

Taking this the other way, why should a pensioner living on the bare minimum pension who has contributed throughout their life into the state pay the same as some rich young socialite who has never worked in their life but has inherited the family millions?

There can be many arguments about this subject but at the end of the day the fine is supposed to be a punishment. Is a flat rate fine a punishment?

[orangebird]

Originally Posted by ianathuth

Taking this the other way, why should a pensioner living on the bare minimum pension who has contributed throughout their life into the state pay the same as some rich young socialite who has never worked in their life but has inherited the family millions?

There can be many arguments about this subject but at the end of the day the fine is supposed to be a punishment. Is a flat rate fine a punishment?

No, it's not - that why I suggested taking peoples licenses away....

[Bifta]

What next, charge rich people more for items than poor people? I have more income than your average pensioner, perhaps I should be paying double for a mars bar.

[philip.j.fry]

Originally Posted by orangebird

owrked hard

Originally Posted by orangebird

who can't spell 'work' and

I'm sorry OB

[paulyoung666]

you aint going to please everybody going down this route for all of the reasons mentioned above , the law is an ass and it will always be the same

[Damien]

I support lowering fines based on income but i dont think it should be increased because someone is rich

[deadite66]

if the government really wanted to stop speeding you would get a prison sentance for constantly speeding but they know it's a tax, we know it's a tax.

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by orangebird

Yep, just another rich tax...why should someone who has pulled their finger out, owrked hard and got a bloody good wage have to pay more than some chav social scrounger who can't spell 'work' and has never paid a penny into the state?

If you want to affect the person speeding, take their license away...

I agree, someone who is earning a very good wage could also be paying a very high mortgage and lots other outgoings car etc, meaning in real terms they have less disposable income than lower paid workers.

It's their choice to spend it on a nice house and car instead of beer, pot, fags and a council flat.