Why are traffic tickets extremely expensive?

I dont drive (no permit or license), and I would not want to chance getting a red light ticket and pay dispecable amounts. My mom got aa red light ticket and it was between $250-$300. I cant understand why they are expensive, and I cant comprehend paying traffic tickets.  If I was the President of the USA, I would sign an executive order to reduce traffic tickets: $10 for parking on a handicap parking space, $15 for improper lane change, $20 for speeding, $40 for blowing a red light, $100 for driving drunk (along with license suspension for driving drunk). 

Anonymous2020-03-03T02:46:45Z

Traffic ticket prices are high for two reasons...
One, to get motorists to obey the laws or incur high fines.
Two, the greedy government uses traffic tickets for revenue (income).

I use the cruise control feature almost every day I drive.

My last ticket was for speeding, 50 mph in a 35mph zone, on October 10th, 1988.

Anonymous2020-03-02T22:41:16Z

Because bad consequences encourages other to focus on not breaking the law.  Traffic laws don't exist as a revenue source for the government, but to provide safety to all drivers.  If you decrease the fines, you will see more people breaking the traffic laws, creating more accidents and more injuries both to those with a drivers license, and to those who don't.

Clive2020-03-02T01:26:43Z

Because a punishment is supposed to HURT.  It's very simple.

And the president can't do that.  Congress is there to make law, or the state legislature if it's state law (which most of it is).  Do that and you'd soon get overruled for exceeding your powers.  Executive orders are for emergencies.

And of course if you had an efficient Congress, you wouldn't need them.  For example, the British Parliament Is greased lightning when it wants to be and often is over anti-terrorism laws when all sides are in agreement that something needs to be done.  Passing a law like that in one day flat is not unusual.

But traffic law is not an emergency.  And the president has no power over it because it's a state matter, not a federal one.  LEARN how your country works (actually it's about time your current president did).

STEVEN F2020-03-01T21:09:40Z

The point is to make violating the law sufficiently painful you don't violate the law.
Note: The President CAN'T change STATE law.

Desmond2020-03-01T20:30:00Z

It costs them a fortune

About $10 for parking on a handicap parking space

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