Fines
Washington's Top Court Cracks Down on Excessive City Fines
A homeless man’s truck was impounded in Seattle and he couldn’t afford the costs to get it back. That’s unconstitutional, justices rule.
$547 Fine Violates Excessive Fines Clause, When It Exceeds the Target's Ability to Pay
So the Washington Supreme Court holds in a case involving a man who was living in his truck, and who had to pay the money when his truck was impounded for being parked too long in one place.
This Woman Faces $165,000 in Fines for 3 Trivial Code Violations
Sandy Martinez is challenging the exorbitant penalty for driveway cracks, a storm-damaged fence, and cars parked in an "unapproved" manner on her own property.
A City Charged This Woman More Than $100,000 for Parking on Her Own Property
Sandy Martinez says that fine, along with another $63,500 for driveway cracks and a downed fence, violates Florida's constitution.
When Your Outfit Is Made Illegal
When fabulous clothes are outlawed, only outlaws will be fabulous.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Banned Localities From Collecting Mask Fines. Local Officials Say They'll Keep Issuing Fines Anyway.
Police in the Miami-area have been proactively issuing $100 fines to people not wearing masks outside.
Chicago City Council Votes To Partially Reform Its Notoriously Harsh Vehicle Impound Program
A 2018 Reason investigation showed how Chicago's impound program ensnared innocent owners, stripped them of their cars, and soaked them in debt.
The Pandemic Is a Lucrative Revenue Opportunity for Incompetent Politicians
If there's one thing at which governments have excelled during this crisis, it's been collecting fines from anybody who steps out of line.
Chicago Mayor Introduces Major Reforms to Punitive Vehicle Impound Program
Reason showed how Chicago's impound program traps innocent owners in thousands of dollars of debt in 2018.
Federal Judge: Florida Can't Block Voting Rights Because of Inability To Pay Court Fines
A law passed by Florida Republicans to limit a constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to felony offenders violates the 14th and 24th Amendments, the judge ruled.
In the Middle of a Pandemic, This Alabama City Is Still Throwing People in Jail for Unpaid Traffic Tickets and Missed Court Dates
County offices and courts are closed for COVID-19, but the jails are full.
COVID-19 Leads Some States To Show Mercy on Petty Fines Owed
It seems unlikely that most Americans who owe fines for petty crimes will be in a better position to pay them in 60 to 90 days.
Federal Appeals Court: Florida Can't Require Payment of Court Debts To Regain Voting Rights
"Equally guilty but wealthier felons are offered access to the ballot while these plaintiffs continue to be disenfranchised, perhaps forever."
The Illinois Comptroller Will Cease Collecting Red Light Camera Fines Amid Corruption Scandal
"As a matter of public policy, this system is clearly broken," says Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza.
Relying on Petty Fines To Fund City Government Can Have Serious Consequences
"Taxation by citation" harms the harmless and destroys trust in civic institutions.
Miami Beach's $100,000 Fines for Airbnb Rentals Are Illegal, Court Rules
Miami Beach's crackdown on Airbnb is "in jarring conflict" with a state law capping municipal fines at $1,000 per day, Judge Michael Hanzman ruled.
Chicago Impounded This Grandmother's Car For a Pot Offense She Didn't Commit. Now She Owes $6,000
Allie Nelson is the latest plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging Chicago's vehicle impound racket, which seizes cars from the innocent and guilty alike.
Woman Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Selling $31 of Marijuana Lands Back in Jail for Court Fees
Fines continued to pile up for almost a decade.
New Orleans Magistrates Get a Cut of Fines and Bail Money, and That's a Problem
Two federal court rulings cite a significant conflict of interest.
Is Your Hometown Balancing Its Budget by Fining Everybody It Can? Here's How To Find Out.
Governing puts together a database of cities and towns addicted to money from fines and forfeitures.
It Wasn't Just a Chokehold That Killed Eric Garner
His death resulted from a violent confrontation that never should have happened.
New York City Zealots Are Trying To Ban Foie Gras
A global culinary capital considers surrendering to the nanny state.
An $80 Fine for a Busted Taillight Ends With a Woman Being Tased
"I don't think that I deserve to pay $80 for something that is fixable — and I can fix it, if that's all you want me to do."
Why Did New York Have to Decriminalize Marijuana Possession Twice?
The new law eliminates a loophole that allowed police to continue arresting people for something that was not supposed to be a crime anymore.
EU Data Privacy Fines Are Getting Steep. Will This Be the New Normal?
And will the end result encourage companies to try to keep cybersecurity breaches secret?
A Mural Quoting Trump at His Most Profane Is Protected Speech, Judge Rules
New Orleans can't use zoning regulations to decide what counts as artistic expression.
Government Bullies Want to Seize This Man's Home Because of Overgrown Grass
If governments can oppress, they usually will.
Stossel: Mow Your Lawn or Lose Your House!
Florida man may lose home because he didn’t cut his grass.
New York City Officially Launches Absurd Ban on Adding CBD to Food, Coffee
Cannabidiol products are legal for sale and consumption, but adding it to other things is somehow forbidden.
Lawsuit Challenges Chicago Towing Racket After City Destroyed Disabled Woman's Van
The lawsuit is the second filed this year challenging Chicago's punitive and corrupt towing program.
Cop Arrests Mom for Letting Kids Wait in Car During 10-Minute Errand
A Pennsylvania mom faces reckless endangerment charges for assuming her children—ages 2, 5, and 7—could survive a very short wait.
Widely Unpopular Bill de Blasio Leads Major Crackdown on Highly Popular Ice Cream Trucks Over Unpaid Parking Tickets
New York's parking regulations make numerous traffic tickets just another cost of doing business for the city's food trucks.
Illinois' Top Court Blesses Chicago's Cronyist Anti-Food-Truck Regulations
Restaurateurs get protection from small competitors. It’s the citizens who lose out on delicious food choices.
Texas Poised To Ban All Red Light Cameras
The oft-abused tool is used more to raise revenue than to protect public safety.
Chelsea Manning Faces $1,000-a-Day Fines, Was Imprisoned Again Yesterday After Refusing to Testify for Grand Jury
Plus: An old drug warrior learns new tricks, Taiwan legalizes same-sex marriage, and more...
Florida City Tries To Steal an Elderly Man's House Over Uncut Grass
Institute for Justice sues Dunedin, Fla., over the $29,000 in fines imposed without due process over Jim Ficken's unmowed lawn.
Chicago Impounds Innocent People's Cars and Soaks Them in Fines. Now It's Getting Sued
Following a Reason investigation into Chicago's punitive vehicle impound program, a new lawsuit alleges the practice violates Chicagoans constitutional rights.
Kamala Harris Offers a Crappy Apology to Parents Who Went to Jail Because Their Kids Missed School
Harris supported a truancy law that listed jail time as a punishment for parents.
Zuckerberg's Plea: Regulate Me Before I Violate People's Privacy Again!
Facebook would prosper in a less robust market.
Florida Brands Petty Thieves as Lifelong Felons, But That Might Change
Florida's $300 felony theft threshold turns petty crimes into prison time. That might change soon.
ACLU Challenges Laws Criminalizing Panhandling
The civil rights group argues that such laws infringe on free speech.
Virginia May Reinstate Licenses for Drivers with Unpaid Court Fees
Gov. Ralph Northam pushes for reform.