If You're Going to California... Drive Slowly (or, How I Learned to Further Hate the California Legislature)

So this time I mean it - I'm going to keep updating - almost every day, so check back and there's guaranteed to be something here. Today it's my beef with a speeding ticket I got back in October 2008.

Okay, so the beef isn't exactly with the ticket, but with the State of California and the stupid laws the legislature decides to enact, furthering my contempt for them and all local elected officials - let's just leave aside the budget deficit and the fact that they don't actually do anything productive - anytime there's actually something important that needs to happen, they pass the buck and decide to let the referenda do the talking... ugh...

So back in October I got a speeding ticket - totally deserved, so we'll just leave that part aside. My court date was set for the week before Christmas, and since I was going to be in SC and GA that week, I decided to call and see what the fine was - it was $187, but since I was going to be unemployed when I got back, I called to get my court date changed to when I was going to be here, after January 1.

So I went to court, listened to the judge tell me I had an extraordinary driving record (that's right - CLEAN baby...) and then tell me my fine was going to be reduced to $35. SWEET right?

Ugh... Let me illustrate for you what the legislature has done for us... I'm just gonna go ahead and list everything as it's written out on my receipt...

Base Fine..............................................................$35.00
Base Fine Rounded to Nearest $10................................$40.00

STATE PENALTY ($10) for Every $10................................$40.00
COUNTY PENALTY ($7) for Every $10...............................$28.00
FACILITIES PENALTY ($5) for Every $10.............................$20.00
Surcharge (20% Base Fine).............................................$8.00

Sub Total..............................................................$131.00

DNA Fee ($2) for Every $10...........................................$8.00
DMV Fee.................................................................$10.00
EMSADD Fee ($2) for Every $10.......................................$8.00
Court Security Fee......................................................$20.00
Conviction Assessment - per convicted charge....................$35.00

Fine Total.............................................................$212.00

That's right - because I waited until after January to go to court and pay the reduced fine, I ended up paying $212.00 on a $187.00 ticket. What really gets me though is that the fines are regressive - what kind of sense does that make? Why would the courts make a law passed on January 1 applicable to tickets received three months prior to the law being passed?

Ugh... California is great, despite the legislature screwing every nickel and dime out of their citizens... I mean, I'm all for paying my fair share to ensure head start programs, school lunches, giving people a hand, but to pay because our elected officials don't know or care to balance a budget? Give me a freaking break...