Letter: Base ticket fines on income
A red-light camera monitors the North Service Road of the LIE at Ronkonkoma Avenue in Ronkonkoma. (Oct. 28, 2010) Credit: James Carbone
The article "Nassau scofflaws get the boot" [News, March 27], regarding County Executive Edward Mangano's program to collect traffic and parking tickets, highlights how the county is increasing enforcement of a purely regressive form of taxation in hopes of feeding county coffers.
When a wealthy individual receives a parking ticket, red-light-camera ticket or moving violation, the cost of the ticket and any related insurance increases is negligible. However, when someone less wealthy receives the same ticket, it could lead to unpaid bills, less money for gas to get to work or school, or even less food on the table.
All Nassau County motorists know that tickets are handed out by county enforcement agencies like candy on Halloween. Until the county, and the rest of the country, adopt a system where the fines vary in accordance with the socioeconomic status of the accused, these tickets and programs will continue to be nothing more than a moneymaking grab and a societal ill.
Eli Kozin, Merrick
