This Louisiana Town Runs Largely on Traffic Fines. If You Fight Your Ticket, the Mayor Is Your Judge.
This Louisiana Town Runs Largely on Traffic Fines. If You Fight Your Ticket, the Mayor Is Your Judge.
Fenton, population 226, brings in over $1 million per year through its mayor’s court, an unusual justice system in which the mayor can serve as judge even though he’s responsible for town finances.
Fenton, population 226, brings in over $1 million per year through its mayor’s court, an unusual justice system in which the mayor can serve as judge even though he’s responsible for town finances.
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So they give out traffic tickets I'd never have to pay if I never visit there again?
From the article:
For those who miss court and don’t pay, the consequences can be severe. Fenton sent the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles about 750 requests to suspend driver’s licenses
This is where its so stupid.
Fuck Louisiana. They can issue a bullshit fine and watch it move up through the legal system and waste many more people's time.
I dont know how people still think that's how things work.
You don't pay a ticket in one state, they issue a warrant, then you get arrested in whatever state you live in AND get hauled to the issuing state in the back of a police car.
While I'm not saying it's a good idea to avoid fines, most cities aren't going to go more than 30 minutes or so to pick up a warrant for fines only. Heck, I've seen warrants that have a little addendum, "in-state pick-up only," when the crime was a highly charged felony.
Even if they opt not to transport, you will get harassed at every traffic stop when warrants pull up. They will take a lot longer than normal, and you still run the risk of getting arrested, even it they don't transport and instead release you later.
How often you getting pulled over?! Been in the South for going on 20 and have been pulled over 4 times, and each time I was either fucking up or appeared to be.
Where did I say anything about me getting pulled over at all? What are you talking about?
Over one ticket? That's insane. Where I live if I get a ticket and don't pay they will simply take it out of my bank account.
It's also not true. You will get a bench warrant issued for skipping court, but the cops aren't hauling you inter-state for silliness like that.
What'll happen in most cases is that you skip the fine, skip the court date and the offended state asks your home state to invalidate your driver's license.
Dude I had a roommate get his ass hauled to jail over a missed parking ticket from Utah. He'd paid it, but the courthouse "forgot" to note that he had. Probably because he's Black and not mormon. Easy math there.
The warrant is for skipping court. When you get a ticket you can either pay (and many places do not have online payment because they're so outdated) or take it to court. If you don't do either then you get a warrant for skipping court.
That still really stupid. I you want to take ticket to court and then don't show up the court should just rule against to automatically and charge you the administrative costs. Those should be taken from your account. This is how it works in Europe.
I'll just never visit the US again.
No, they'll use the interstate agreements to get your license suspended.