California’s latest brainstorm: red-light cameras that only apply to the rich . . .

Photo above - Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. Proud owner of the world's first $1 million speeding ticket. But how much should the driver have to pay at a red-light cam?

“Hey lady, we’ve got you on camera. Red light violation. That will be $158. Pay up now. It will go up to $262 if we have to send you a reminder. Yes, we accept Visa. Or you can send us a Walmart gift card if you want.” Those are the actual fees in Florida. How many cameras are there in the state? The government doesn’t want to say. They stopped releasing data in 2021, when there were 500. Criminy, there are probably 500 on my drive to work now.

California has a solution. (see link below). Reduced or zero red light fines if you’re a “normie”. That evidently means if the perp is getting government benefits, works for minimum wage, or has a ridiculously low taxable income as a self-employed contractor or bartender. Then you don’t have to pay. Uber drivers are going to love this, no?

No-ticket-unless-you're-rich might be a violation of the constitutional guarantee of equal justice under the law. Imagine if the authorities only jailed ghetto crack-heads and let the suburban boys and girls who were caught snorting lines off with just a fine. Wait . . . someone tried that already, and it WAS ruled illegal.

Anyway, red light cams are a winning lottery ticket for states that allow them. California is cagey about their program – they won’t say how the annual haul is worth. In Florida the government clears $50 million a year, after expenses. Those expenses include lavish fees to the owner/operators of the camera systems. Since California has triple the population, I’m guessing the take is at least 3X higher. $150 million or more. (You back there – shouting “peanuts” – shut the eff up unless you have $150 million in your checking account right now. Or $500 which is the top red light fine in California).

$500 for a red light violation? No wonder some elected official representing East LA wants to stop ticketing his constituents. Just make everyone else from outside the 'hood pay. They're easy enough to spot.

Flavor Flav was fined for a traffic violation the way to his mother’s funeral. Ben Affleck reminded the officer who pulled him over that he was Batman. Kylie Jenner: “Sorry, I have no excuse officer. Okay, stare at those things as long as you like . . . “

If red light cams weren’t a scam, people wouldn’t complain. But numerous studies have shown that the accident rate goes UP at cam intersections, even when the city council doesn't reduce the yellow warning to goose up the revenue. It doesn’t matter if your brother was driving - we can't tell because of your " 'round midnight" window tint. And there’s no change to your insurance rates, since nobody knows who was driving. It’s all about the Benjamins.

This soak the rich scheme is simply a waypoint on the way to outrageously higher traffic fines, of course. $500 would be a hit to you and me and the Door Dash driver. But not to Ben Affleck or Kylie Jenner.

Sweden is showing us the future. Tickets are based on your income. The police have your income tax records linked to their driver's license database. (This DOES seem like an oppressive police state, no?) Some Swedish guy was fined over $1 million for going 180 mph in a 65 zone. He was driving a 700hp Mercedes SLS AMG GT3. Yeah, $500 is NOT going to deter an entitled Eurotwit like that. And penuriously paid Swedish police probably hit full boil when they see someone driving a car which costs the equivalent of 5 years' salary. But a million dollars for a ticket? Get real. This could be where America is headed. To help pay for California state homeless programs, of course. Heads up, Ben and Kylie!

I’m just sayin’ . . .

'Equity' Cameras Go Live in California - If You're Not Low Income, Prepare to Pay