Government Imprisoning People Who Cannot Pay a Fine

Some people have said I am too critical of government and that government is here to help us. The only thing that government is here to do is to help themselves to other people’s money. Around the world governments are desperate for money. In Britain, they have sold student loans to private debt collectors at 25% of the face value. These firms them harass people around the world to pay the full 100% plus interest that is not 0.05%.
In Italy, the municipal governments have cameras on everything. They make roads very cleverly accessible by car for brief periods turning them off an on like a light-switch. Many cities in Italy live off of fining tourists. Travel to Italy, but never rent a car. You will be getting tickets in the mail years after your trip with just curt statements you drove down some street that was unauthorized. Of course they will not tell you even the street, day, or time. Just send them money. Many cities in Italy issue more tickets each year then there are people living in the entire city. It has become a business.
My father had taken a position as a municipal judge back in the early 60s in Cinnaminson Township, New Jersey. He soon quit when the politicians were demanding he impose the maximum fine for every offense. Whenever a government gets to justify fining you, it rapidly becomes a business. In Cherry Hill, New Jersey, locals know to avoid Route 70 at Springdale Road. This single camera has issued 17,000 tickets when the total population (including children) is just under 70,000. It has been so outrageous that a class action lawsuit was filed.

This post was published at Armstrong Economics on December 29, 2014.