Speed A Little, Pay A Lot, Keep It On The DL In SC
WIZARD… NEEDS… FOOD! Okay, only some of you are the right age to remember where that phrase originated, but if you are, just imagine that same voice saying, SOUTH… CAROLINA… NEEDS… CASH! There’s an $800 million hole in the state budget. If I ran the state, I’d slap a $400 tariff on every smartphone from China that crosses the border and get David Boies to argue that the interstate commerce clause shouldn’t be any part of “the living Constitution”. That’s my awesome idea and I’m excited about it.
Since most of you live in the so-called “real world”, however, you’ve no doubt realized from whence some of this missing money is going to be extorted: the hapless, helpless American motorist.
Fox News reports that the South Carolina legislature is considering creating a $150 no-points ticket for drivers caught going between 1 and 10 miles per hour over the speed limit.
But state Rep. Todd Rutherford, a Democratic co-sponsor of the bill, told FoxNews.com that the legislation isn’t aimed at closing the deficit. While the local ticketing process would help divert revenues from insurance companies to the cash-strapped state, Rutherford said it’s directed at providing additional protections for motorists.
“My biggest thing is motorists should have an option and law enforcement should have an option,” he said.
Since the current South Carolina law actually requires mandatory roadside lethal injection for drivers caught going 1mph over the limit, it’s a nice option to have. Oh, no, wait. The current penalty isn’t lethal injection. It’s a $15 ticket. Look for countless deadly high-speed chases to ensue as SC motorists choose to flee rather than pay a bill and a half. Or not.
More by Jack Baruth
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I have nothing but respect for LEOs that protecting the public and investigating crime but when they are engaged in purely revenue generating activities such as a speed trap they disgust me. I live in Tampa and at the end of every month the Hillsborough county sheriff's office sets up a speed trap in a CVS parking lot. They got me at 43 in a 30 last month, $150 fine and 2 points. And then they add insult to injury by sending me a request to support my local sheriff by buying a "get out of a ticket" sticker for $85...I was livid...what total unmitigating gall. The deputy wasn't happy when I told him they should apply the same zeal to finding the punks vandalizing our neighborhood as they do to writing tickets.
I was pulled over on I-95 in SC way back in 1980 for going 57 in a 55 zone. It was because I had Ohio plates and a Hilton Head Island sticker so the trooper automatically assumed I was an a**hole. I was respectful and friendly so I only got a no-cost warning and was advised to 'git that speedometer checked when y'all git bact to O-hi-ya'. I guess they won't be so nice next time.