[Evdokia]

Wow, must remember not to speed in Switzerland

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8446545.stm

The man was reportedly caught driving a red Ferrari Testarossa at 137km/h (85mph) through a village.
The penalty was calculated based on the unnamed motorist's wealth - assessed by the court as $22.7m (£14.1m) - and because he was a repeat offender.
It is more than double Switzerland's previous record speeding fine - handed to a Porsche driver in Zurich in 2008.

[beonecenry]

Nice. Should have been just sent to jail though.

[Quaganoca]

That's how it should be, but I also agree on the jail thing. Wealth shouldn't let you circumvent the law. Like in the U.S. if you're a hollywood star you can get umpteen million drug charges and DUI's and still cruise around in your Mercedes.

[gdjfhdf]

Nice. Should have been just sent to jail though.

Yeah right! [rolleyes]

Its better this way. In jail he would have cost the country money, now the country gets a nice bite from his bank account. If anything they should have made him pay a higher fine.

From a non emotional standpoint its not fair though. If me and someone else got caught speeding, and the other guy has to pay half the fine just because he earns less, I wouldnt accept that.

[HagsPusia]

Yeah right! [rolleyes]

Its better this way. In jail he would have cost the country money, now the country gets a nice bite from his bank account. If anything they should have made him pay a higher fine.

From a non emotional standpoint its not fair though. If me and someone else got caught speeding, and the other guy has to pay half the fine just because he earns less, I wouldnt accept that.

Of course it's fair. What wouldn't be is someone who earns a pittance being fined an amount that is an enormous amount to them and someone else rolling in money being fined the same amount which is pocket change to them

[pissmanvd]

Of course it's fair. What wouldn't be is someone who earns a pittance being fined an amount that is an enormous amount to them and someone else rolling in money being fined the same amount which is pocket change to them

So, should groceries and services cost them more too?

Should everyone be priced at the same fraction of their wealth? Do you know what you are insinuating?

[HagsPusia]

So, should groceries and services cost them more too?

Should everyone be priced at the same fraction of their wealth? Do you know what you are insinuating?

The cost of groceries and services isn't a punishment. A fine is supposed to be a punishment. How can it be an equal punishment to fine a poor and rich person exactly the same?

[AlexDatig]

That's how it should be, but I also agree on the jail thing. Wealth shouldn't let you circumvent the law. Like in the U.S. if you're a hollywood star you can get umpteen million drug charges and DUI's and still cruise around in your Mercedes.

Except that speeding laws have no bearing on reality at all... at least as far as highway travel goes. 100kph limits are painfully slow if you're on a good road in a decent car. There are only 2 reasons why speed limits exist in this case - to make the jurisdiction money, and to further restrict freedom.

Speed limits should be flexible, and be based on the road surface quality, time of day, car density and traffic conditions. At 2am on a well-paved 4-lane road, with no rain or snow or fog, the inner 2 lanes should have no speed limits at all.

Any road that has intersections or street lights should be limited to 100kph and down to 50kph, depending on the density of crossings. That's just prudent... and only an idiot would be doing 50mph down a city street.

[beonecenry]

Do you know what you're insinuating when you let a millionaire get away from extremely reckless driving (140kmh through a village) with a few 100$ fine?

[Quaganoca]

So, should groceries and services cost them more too?

Should everyone be priced at the same fraction of their wealth? Do you know what you are insinuating?

There's a difference between goods & services and punishment for breaking the law. The two aren't comparable.

Punishment for crimes is meant to be a deterrent. Wealth should never allow a person to break the law and not suffer the consequences. I feel that having the law apply equally to all citizens is important for any advanced civilization. There should be no legal gap between the nobility and the peasants.

Except that speeding laws have no bearing on reality at all... at least as far as highway travel goes. 100kph limits are painfully slow if you're on a good road in a decent car. There are only 2 reasons why speed limits exist in this case - to make the jurisdiction money, and to further restrict freedom.

Speed limits should be flexible, and be based on the road surface quality, time of day, car density and traffic conditions. At 2am on a well-paved 4-lane road, with no rain or snow or fog, the inner 2 lanes should have no speed limits at all.

I agree with the second paragraph, but the first only holds true if everyone is on the road is a skilled driver in a good automobile. I guess it sorta ties into the second with traffic density.

Speed limits ARE too low. But in the end the point is moot. The law is the law. You don't get the break the law just because you disagree with. I disgaree with a HUGE number of laws, but other people would want harsher punishments for the same thing I think should be legal. This is just how society works. There will be laws you disagree with but must follow anyway.

[pissmanvd]

The cost of groceries and services isn't a punishment. A fine is supposed to be a punishment. How can it be an equal punishment to fine a poor and rich person exactly the same?

I see your point. However, you are punishing the wealthy MORE for the same crime then, since you can not gauge the value a percentage of wealth mean to each person. It is all relative, I mean, what do you assess? All assets and capital? Liquid asset? Imagine the accounting overhead if this were to actually be implemented.

[Barryrich]

So, should groceries and services cost them more too?

Should everyone be priced at the same fraction of their wealth? Do you know what you are insinuating?

I know

So the law should be applied differently to every person? Somehow this guys speeding was WORSE than other people's speeding because he makes more money?

Retarded.

[crestosssa]

Do you know what you're insinuating when you let a millionaire get away from extremely reckless driving (140kmh through a village) with a few 100$ fine?

exactly... even based on the fraction of the fine to his wealth if they were to fine me for the same offence it would come to approx £20.

[pissmanvd]

exactly... even based on the fraction of the fine to his wealth if they were to fine me for the same offence it would come to approx £20.

You do not know that. His wealth was assessed at 23Mil, that does not mean it was liquidated.

[beonecenry]

I know

So the law should be applied differently to every person? Somehow this guys speeding was WORSE than other people's speeding because he makes more money?

Retarded.

If the law dictates that a fine should be a certain percentage of someone's wealth, then the law is essentially the same for every person.

[pissmanvd]

If the law dictates that a fine should be a certain percentage of someone's wealth, then the law is essentially the same for every person.

Please read a sentence about Finance then edit your post.

[melissa]

I wish the US would base fines on how much money, assets, etc you have. If I get a $500 ticket, that's a nice chunk of change since I actually have to work for my money. If a multimillionaire gets fined $500, it is hardly a punishment. Time in jail is time in jail, no matter who it is. Fines on the other hand, affect people in different ways depending on their financial situation.

[beonecenry]

Please read a sentence about Finance then edit your post.

**** you

[pissmanvd]

**** you

[rofl] That is quite the reaction! A bit more than I expected, but a reaction nonetheless.

[Quaganoca]

If the law dictates that a fine should be a certain percentage of someone's wealth, then the law is essentially the same for every person.

I agree. Although I do concede that it is confusing, and hard, to assess someone's actual wealth and to fine them accordingly.

Perhaps the punishment shouldn't be monetary but should actually fit the crime. 24 hours in jail and a 15 day license suspension for the first offense and it just goes up from there.

Edit: I do realize that would never happen, because the fines are there to generate money. These laws aren't enforced just for our safety, they're enforced to fill the coffers.