The economy is hitting the government where it hurts the most...in its pocketbook. Major declines in consumer spending have had a detrimental affect on sales tax revenues. The drop in property values has resulted in a corresponding decrease in property tax revenue. Just pick up a newspaper and you can read about local municipalities crying the blues about record budgetary deficits.
A Plan to Address the Budget Deficit - Go After Law Violators
The politicians have been striking back with a rather simple plan...cut spending, and raise revenues. There is often much debate by your elected officials on which public programs to trim or eliminate. On the other hand, it is much easier to get bipartisan support on bills designed to raise taxes, increase fees, and bolster fines. Citizens who violate the law are an appealing target to the legislature because they don't earn public sympathy.
Starting in 2009, Florida lawmakers passed measures designed to produce over $63 million in revenue from motorists who commit traffic infractions. Here are a few of the money making changes that Pinellas county motorists are now forced to contend with:
- All traffic infraction fines were boosted by $10.00;
- Every Pinellas ticket also gets assessed an extra $30.00 in court costs;
- Tack on another $3.00 for drivers education safety programs;
- Include a surcharge of $3.00 to benefit teen court;
- Bump the obligation another $2.00 to support public safety applicant screening;
- Add a mandatory $25.00 increase for unlawful speed citations where the motorist exceeded the posted speed limit by 15 to 29 miles per hour;
- Eliminate the former 18% discount motorists previously enjoyed if they agreed to attend an online or classroom driver improvement course;
Receive a Traffic Ticket? Tallahassee says..."Dig Deep in Your Wallet"
Given all of the statutory increases, the following are just two examples of the "damage" that can be caused to your personal household budget in the spirit of helping the government's budge woes:
- Motorist cited for 48 MPH in a 35 MPH zone: $206.00 Fine;
- Motorist cited for 35 MPH in 15 MPH School or Construction zone: $456.00 Fine.
Increased Ticket Fines Produce Unintended Results
Few people could have foreseen the actual affect that raising fines for traffic tickets would cause. Instead of raising revenue, the amount of monies collected by the clerk of court for traffic ticket fines actually decreased. And here is the real "kicker,"... the drop in revenue came about despite the fact that police officers were actually writing more tickets!
In 2010, St. Petersburg Police officers wrote 1,751 more tickets than they issued the previous year. Yet, despite the increase in citations and the rather generous hike in fines, $65,000 less revenue was actually collected. The Pinellas county Clerk of Court has calculated that at the current rate, an additional 1,970 more tickets will be written in St. Petersburg in 2011 than was issued in 2010. Yet, revenue in 2011is predicted to drop even below that collected in 2010. In other words, not only did the plan to raise revenue fail, but the effectiveness of the policy is getting worse. Put simply, 2011 will see the St. Petersburg Police Department issue 3,484 more tickets than they did in 2008. Yet the Clerk of Court will collect $206,278 less in revenue.
Have St. Petersburg Motorists Reached Their Limit?
In the 1976 satirical movie "Network," actor Peter Finch rants on a network newscast, "I am Mad as Hell & I'm Not Going to Take this Anymore." He persuades his television audience to join him in yelling the refrain out of the windows of their homes, so that the government will wake up and take appropriate action. The film won four academy awards and 24 years later was chosen for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress because of its cultural, historical and aesthetic significance.
Many of St. Petersburg motorists seem to have reached their own "tipping point." They are struggling with their family finances and appear "mad as hell" at the government. They outraged by the government's exorbitant fine increases. Many are also forced to choose between paying to put food on the table for their family and paying and the high fine associated with their traffic citation.
The Government Responds by Suspending Driving Privileges
The intentional failure to pay a traffic citation might represent a formal protest over the current state of affairs. It may also add credence to the expression that you "can't squeeze water from a stone." However, the one thing you can count on, is that it will cause your drivers license to be "indefinitely suspended." (See: Florida Statute Section 322.245) What that means is that unlike a point suspension, a "failure to pay" suspension will not automatically terminate after a given length of time. Rather, the suspension continues until such time as the motorist is either found "not guilty" of the offense, or pays the ticket. Thereafter, the driving privilege can only then be reinstated after paying a $60.00 "D-6 suspension reinstatement fee" to the Florida Department of Highway Safety, Division of Drivers Licenses.
Driving on a Suspended License
Since 2005, more than 7000 people have been booked into the Pinellas County Jail on charges of Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (DWLSR). That is because, knowingly driving on a suspended license in Florida is a criminal offense. There are several common scenarios where driving on a suspended license can be a felony offense. (For example, multiple offenders and persons suffering Habitual Traffic Offender suspensions.)
A felony criminal charge can greatly impact educational pursuits, occupational licensing and employment. Being convicted of a felony charge carries a substantial fine and the possibility of being sentenced to a term of imprisonment in the Florida Department of corrections. (State Prison)
We Can Help!
Knowing your Florida drivers license status is important before getting behind the wheel of your vehicle. However, if you find yourself charged with driving on a suspended or revoked drivers license in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Pinellas Park, Kenneth City, Largo, Gulfport, St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Maderia Beach, or any other area within Pinellas County...We Can Help!
At a free consultation, our office can assist you in the following ways:
- We can print your complete drivers license record and diagnose the source of the suspension;
- We can instruct you on ways to reinstate your driving privilege or in the alternative, possibly qualify for a hardship drivers license;
- We can explore the legality of the traffic stop, whether the prosecutor can prove the identity of the driver and other possible defenses;
- We can examine whether the prosecutor can meet the proper prerequisites for felonization of the DWLSR charge and if we can seek a reduction to a misdemeanor offense;
- We can determine if the prosecutor can meet his burden by proving that you "knew" your drivers license was suspended before being told by the law enforcement officer;
- If it appears that the facts and the law are against you, we can review your reasons for driving and any other mitigating circumstances to enhance our efforts to avoid jail, consider probation, and to avoid a formal conviction through a withhold of adjudication.
Arrested for Driving on a Suspended License?
We can help!
Free consultation: (727) 578-0303
Our DUI website: www.duistpetersburglawyer.com
Our Criminal Defense website: www.defensehelp.com
Related Links:
Before You Pay a Pinellas Traffic Ticket...Call us First
FAQ by DHSMV on Reinstatement After Suspension or Revocation
How to Clear a Suspension for Failure to Pay a Traffic Ticket
The Benefits of Having Your Pinellas Arrest Record Sealed or Expunged
First Time Pinellas Offenders
Since so many services vital are provided by these fees and they are only assessed on someone is in violation of a law, it is hard to figure out how anyone can be opposed to this method of generating revenues.
Anyone who does not want to pay these fees should abide by the law!
Posted by: Katie Self | September 03, 2011 at 12:49 PM