Doubling Fines Would Hurt Poor
* It is beyond reason and outrageous that Assemblyman Lou Correa (D-Anaheim) wants to introduce legislation that would double many traffic fines, such as raising the fine for running a red light from $271 to $542 (Dec. 17).
As a clerk in the traffic division of a court in Orange County, it is my observation that 85% to 90% of the people I serve at the counter are minorities and of low income.
The government does not have to break their backs with extreme fines. A fine of $271 is more than enough to send a message to people to drive more carefully.
These people are trying to feed their families, put roofs over their heads and pay required auto insurance.
Even with the decent salary I make, as a single person, $271 would put a tremendous strain on my monthly responsibilities. A fine of $542 would be more than what I pay for rent.
Doubling these fines is oppressing poor people more than they can bear.
The true agenda of Correa is not to protect the public but to penalize those traffic offenders more in order to get the traffic lights he wants.
Why not search for the money somewhere else? How about among the wealthy?
The poor are already bringing in millions of dollars every year from the citations received from the traffic police, the most successful revenue collection system in the state.
BARBARA J. BROOKS
Fullerton
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