The city of Gretna, Louisiana, in the shadow of New Orleans, brings in more money through fines and related fees than some larger cities in the state. An investigation by WVUE-TV and ProPublica shows that much of that money comes from drivers who rack up multiple violations and hefty fines.
Defendants in Gretna’s mayor’s court, a unique justice system found only in Louisiana and Ohio, are charged with more violations — and face greater fines as a result — than those in seven other cities and towns we looked at. Many of those charges in Gretna are for nonmoving violations such as an expired license plate or vehicle inspection sticker.
And if a defendant misses a payment and doesn’t come to court to explain why, the court often adds a contempt charge, with an additional $150 fine. About half of Gretna’s cases over a three-year period included contempt charges.
A city representative said that officers charge people with violations only when they have probable cause, and that such fines deter motorists from breaking the law. A former New Orleans police chief, however, said cities can get people to follow the law without issuing lots of tickets.
It sounds like it might be another form of poor tax.
Your license/inspection is expired (possibly because you either couldn’t afford to renew it, or couldn’t take the day off to renew it) = given a fine.
Misses a payment, because they already couldn’t afford the fine = given another fine and a court date.
Have to show up in court, but can’t, again for the same reason you never renewed your license or paid the fine = given yet another fine.
It just seems like it is intended to snowball due to greed. But maybe I’m wrong and just excessively jaded and cynical.
We have plenty of speed trap towns like that around here. They want lower property taxes, so they augment their income using bullshit fines they give to out of towners. I’m sure they’re shittier to poor people and people of color like all cops are, but really they want someone who will pay the fine and lives far enough that they won’t go to court.
It is just one of several reasons traffic fines should go to the state or federal government.
Traffic fines should go to the schools, but you’re right that the feds are probably the best ones to dole the money out.