Increasing the level of punishment seldom works. It only corrects for one state of mind, the “if i get caught its not that bad” mind set. But a lot of people operate in other mind sets such as
Crafty: “i have thought this out and i am not going to get caught” so the consequences dont matter
Passion: “I really want to do/have this thing!” So the consequences dont matter
Or Disregard: “fuck da police!” So the consequences dont matter
On top of that fines are usually mailed out and take a week to get to you which makes it hard to associate the punishment to the crime because it is long in the past, so people just feel like the punishment is only vindictive.
In saying that however, I am all for means tested fines so that if you are done speeding in your 2025 Mercedes you get a fine that feels like punishment and not just “oh no my parking change!”
But is there a point where it’s too low that people don’t even think twice? I mean currently for anything up to 10km over it’s only $30. Even in Australia the lowest I can see is at least $100. $30 is like skipping a takeaway meal or two.
I agree that increasing punishment in every case doesn’t always work though. But it just seems too low to me.
But my understanding is you can only get demerits in person, from another person, at the time, on the side of the road.
This seems like a flaw. I can cope with a low-tier speeding fine easily. $30? Shit, that’s “don’t buy a coffee that month” territory. I can just not do that all year, if I get caught speeding by a camera every month it’s not great but it’s handleable.
Demerits? I’m not fucking with that shit. I can’t offset them with lifestyle changes. Too many of them and I’m up shits creek.
But you’re not getting demerits from fixed cameras or camera vans. Ie, all the speed cameras on motorways. You’ve got to be speeding enough to get pulled over. And if you do, it’s still up to the officers discretion.
Yes, it’s 100 demerits within two years and you get a suspended license for three months.
Someone did point out to me on another post that speed camera tickets get sent to the registered owner of the car, not the driver at the time, which makes sense why they don’t hand out demerits for them.
Still I think it stands to reason making it slightly more painful for regular speeding tickets would at least discourage some from making it a habit, or at least change their habits once the amount starts piling up.
I didn’t know you could transfer demerits in other countries, interesting. Someone more knowledgeable than me can probably tell us why it’s not implemented here.
Unfortunately a person doesn’t need to be a dickhead to be bad driver, there’s a pretty long list of things you can get demerits for.
Increasing the level of punishment seldom works. It only corrects for one state of mind, the “if i get caught its not that bad” mind set. But a lot of people operate in other mind sets such as
Crafty: “i have thought this out and i am not going to get caught” so the consequences dont matter
Passion: “I really want to do/have this thing!” So the consequences dont matter
Or Disregard: “fuck da police!” So the consequences dont matter
On top of that fines are usually mailed out and take a week to get to you which makes it hard to associate the punishment to the crime because it is long in the past, so people just feel like the punishment is only vindictive.
In saying that however, I am all for means tested fines so that if you are done speeding in your 2025 Mercedes you get a fine that feels like punishment and not just “oh no my parking change!”
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/03/finland-home-of-the-103000-speeding-ticket/387484/
Some dude got a 103,000 USD speeding ticket.
But is there a point where it’s too low that people don’t even think twice? I mean currently for anything up to 10km over it’s only $30. Even in Australia the lowest I can see is at least $100. $30 is like skipping a takeaway meal or two.
I agree that increasing punishment in every case doesn’t always work though. But it just seems too low to me.
I’m not 100% caught up on NZ driving penalties.
But my understanding is you can only get demerits in person, from another person, at the time, on the side of the road.
This seems like a flaw. I can cope with a low-tier speeding fine easily. $30? Shit, that’s “don’t buy a coffee that month” territory. I can just not do that all year, if I get caught speeding by a camera every month it’s not great but it’s handleable.
Demerits? I’m not fucking with that shit. I can’t offset them with lifestyle changes. Too many of them and I’m up shits creek.
But you’re not getting demerits from fixed cameras or camera vans. Ie, all the speed cameras on motorways. You’ve got to be speeding enough to get pulled over. And if you do, it’s still up to the officers discretion.
Yes, it’s 100 demerits within two years and you get a suspended license for three months.
Someone did point out to me on another post that speed camera tickets get sent to the registered owner of the car, not the driver at the time, which makes sense why they don’t hand out demerits for them.
Still I think it stands to reason making it slightly more painful for regular speeding tickets would at least discourage some from making it a habit, or at least change their habits once the amount starts piling up.
In NZ we can transfer fines to other people, why not demerits? Other countries handle it fine.
Don’t want demerits for when you’re not driving? Don’t let dickheads drive your car.
I didn’t know you could transfer demerits in other countries, interesting. Someone more knowledgeable than me can probably tell us why it’s not implemented here.
Unfortunately a person doesn’t need to be a dickhead to be bad driver, there’s a pretty long list of things you can get demerits for.