September 4, 2004
Say what you mean, and mean what you say...
Ok, so I'm going to get political. But this really is of interest to anyone who drives in lovely New York. State Motto: We Know What's Best For You.
One thing that I really can't stand is people who can't be honest. People who say one thing in the hopes that you won't really see what they are really saying. What has my dander up this time? Speeding Tickets. In theory, a speeding ticket is a fine that someone gets for exceeding the speed limit as punishment for not following the law. A law that is intended to increase safety on the roads.
Ok, I'll buy that. I might not agree with a posted speed limit, and I would argue that there is much greater danger by someone driving 10 miles below the speed limit, than 10 miles above. Of course, it should go without saying that I'm talking about highways and thruways here. I would also argue that if you drive like an ass, you're just as much of a danger at 25 miles per hour, or 60 miles an hour. It's not the speed that's the danger, it's the bad decisions that one makes when driving (including driving at a speed that's not appropriate for the situation) that's dangerous, not the speed itself.
Either way, that's the way it is.
But wait, could it be that speeding tickets are given with the intent of gaining revenue? No, couldn't be. That would be like saying that people are arrested to lower the cost of manufacturing license plates.
But 'shockingly' enough, it's all about the cash.
Specifically, it's about the cash that New York State wants to take from the local municipalities. I (luckily) don't know how it works in the rest of the country, but around here, it's a common thing that if you get a speeding ticket, you can usually plead it down to a non-moving violation, pay a fine, and sometimes go to driving school. Not only don't you get a hit on you insurance (but of course, you still pay fines), but apparently, the local municipality gets to keep the money from the fine. See, for some twisted reason, if you get a moving violation, the state takes the money. Even if it's a local officer who writes you a ticket within a city's/town's limits, the state still takes the money.
Now, Albany wants ALL the money.
So no more pleading down a speeding ticket.
Why?
Does it make the road safer? No.
Does it bring more money into the state government? Yes.
So there you have it. The state of New York is practically admitting that speeding tickets are nothing but another way to get more money into the state government.
My proposal is that for every moving violation, I'll just cut a check to Governor George E. Pataki at the State Capitol in Albany, for whatever funds that they would lose out. I'll pay the local fine, I'll cut the state a check, and carry on my way.
After all, it's all about money, isn't it?
Erik...
(Cutting Off At The Pass Section: Yes, I know. The 'easy' answer is 'Don't Speed'. Just like the easy way to avoid a hangover is 'don't drink'.)
Addendum:
There is a slight ray of hope that this whole thing will blow up in the faces of the state government:
One thing that I really can't stand is people who can't be honest. People who say one thing in the hopes that you won't really see what they are really saying. What has my dander up this time? Speeding Tickets. In theory, a speeding ticket is a fine that someone gets for exceeding the speed limit as punishment for not following the law. A law that is intended to increase safety on the roads.
Ok, I'll buy that. I might not agree with a posted speed limit, and I would argue that there is much greater danger by someone driving 10 miles below the speed limit, than 10 miles above. Of course, it should go without saying that I'm talking about highways and thruways here. I would also argue that if you drive like an ass, you're just as much of a danger at 25 miles per hour, or 60 miles an hour. It's not the speed that's the danger, it's the bad decisions that one makes when driving (including driving at a speed that's not appropriate for the situation) that's dangerous, not the speed itself.
Either way, that's the way it is.
But wait, could it be that speeding tickets are given with the intent of gaining revenue? No, couldn't be. That would be like saying that people are arrested to lower the cost of manufacturing license plates.
But 'shockingly' enough, it's all about the cash.
Specifically, it's about the cash that New York State wants to take from the local municipalities. I (luckily) don't know how it works in the rest of the country, but around here, it's a common thing that if you get a speeding ticket, you can usually plead it down to a non-moving violation, pay a fine, and sometimes go to driving school. Not only don't you get a hit on you insurance (but of course, you still pay fines), but apparently, the local municipality gets to keep the money from the fine. See, for some twisted reason, if you get a moving violation, the state takes the money. Even if it's a local officer who writes you a ticket within a city's/town's limits, the state still takes the money.
Now, Albany wants ALL the money.
So no more pleading down a speeding ticket.
Why?
Does it make the road safer? No.
Does it bring more money into the state government? Yes.
So there you have it. The state of New York is practically admitting that speeding tickets are nothing but another way to get more money into the state government.
My proposal is that for every moving violation, I'll just cut a check to Governor George E. Pataki at the State Capitol in Albany, for whatever funds that they would lose out. I'll pay the local fine, I'll cut the state a check, and carry on my way.
After all, it's all about money, isn't it?
Erik...
(Cutting Off At The Pass Section: Yes, I know. The 'easy' answer is 'Don't Speed'. Just like the easy way to avoid a hangover is 'don't drink'.)
Addendum:
There is a slight ray of hope that this whole thing will blow up in the faces of the state government:
Orchard Park Councilwoman Nan Ackerman, though, had another suggestion to keep the fine money from leaving towns for the state coffers.
"We certainly could boycott it," she said, "by encouraging the entire community to stop their moving violations so the state doesn't get any money, either."
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