Indianapolis Tacks on Steep Fines for Challenging Traffic Tickets

An Indianapolis attorney has filed a class action lawsuit against the city, claiming that traffic court judges are penalizing motorists who challenge traffic tickets by slapping them with additional fines ranging from $500 to $2,500. The fines are meant to discourage people who try to game the system by winning default judgments on legitimate tickets when the police officer who wrote it can't make it into court. But it's also a pretty strong incentive for people with legitimate complaints not to bother.

The fines are part of a broader campaign by the city to bring in more revenue from traffic fines, particularly parking tickets.