Opinion: the U.S. should implement income-based fines
Over the course of three years, billionaire Jeff Bezos paid $16,000 worth in parking violations while renovating one of his mansions in the District of Columbia.
Imagine where that money could have gone.
In the United States, people of varying net-worth and social statuses are legally fined the same amount, despite $500 meaning nothing to some upper-class citizens, and the difference between rent or food on the table for lower-class citizens. It’s unfair and ridiculous that legal fines are not dependent on earnings.
As a college student, a lot of my money going into paying bills and school fees, but it’s difficult with a part-time job. Many of my peers and I would benefit from equal fining.
Countries like Finland, the U.K. and Switzerland have found the solution. They are implementing income-based fines, which simply means a person is fined for illegal activity based on how much they earn.
Joe Pinsker, a journalist for The Atlantic, wrote, “It starts with an estimate of the amount of spending money a Finn has for one day, and then divides that by two — the resulting number is considered a reasonable amount of spending money to deprive the offender of. Then, based on the severity of the crime, the system has rules for how many days the offender must go without that money.”
This law would not only hold richer people accountable for actions that they don’t think apply to them, but it would be fairer to people with less income. Students, in particular, would benefit from having to pay lower fines since most college students work low-paying, part-time jobs while paying for school fees.
Most people abstain from speeding and illegal parking for fear of paying fines, but richer people don’t have to worry about it. Income-based fines would promote safer roadways if those people are held accountable and fined to the strict amounts that would actually motivate them to follow the law.
Lucas Rentschler, an associate professor for the Economics and Finances Department at USU said, “Income-based fines would affect the incentives of everyone, including USU students.”
Rentschler said if income-based fines cannot be implemented then court-mandated programs can be implemented instead in order to fine people fairly on a scale.
Some people consider this policy to be unfair, which I think is a step in the right direction. While it’s true that some upper-class people earn their money, it also makes them susceptible to tax evasion, corruption and a toxic mindset that they can do whatever they want. They often benefit from tax evasion and write-offs. Income-based fines will help to prevent this type of corruption.
Europe operates differently than America, and including these types of fines that define wealth would be tricky and controversial, but I believe that it would be in the interest of the class system and all U.S. citizens.
Implementing these income-based fines would provide a lot of advantages to people with lower-income status, filling the wage gap. It would hinder corruption amongst the upper class, holding them accountable for their actions as equally as any other citizen. Our communities will be safer and it’s proven to work in other countries. Decreasing the incarceration rates of people who can’t pay fines is also the goal. This program would be an act of justice that can change America for the better.
Megan Cowdell is a second-year communications student. She loves going on bike rides, reading mystery novels and watching cheesy movies.