Fines vs Community Service Hours

[farmgirl]

Hello! I have known people who, when receiving a speeding ticket, have opted to do community service instead of paying the fine. Not sure if it's a common practice all over, but apparently is done relatively frequently in Saskatchewan (Canada) where I reside. I was curious if you had any opinions on the matter. Or do you really not care one way or the other?
I promise not to be offended if it's beneath your dignity to answer my trifling question. :cool:

[SnapShawt]

I'm not sure what opinion you're asking for. Are you asking if they do indeed have community service in lieu of paying the fine? Or are you asking how we feel about you doing community service if allowed instead of paying the fine?

I wouldn't know the answer to the first question. You'd need to call your court and find out.

As far as doing community service instead of paying the fine, then go for it. It is a way in which, instead of paying money, you put in work time for the locality and instead of being paid it is credited to your fine. The community benefits from you working, and you benefit by not having to shell out the cash.

In that case, I think community service is a great thing. Sometimes I don't, but that's another story on other types of cases.

[farmgirl]

Just looking for opinions on how you feel about people taking that option... I like the idea of giving something back to the community, but then I'm also of the opinion that one does not have to be forced into it and can volunteer anytime they desire...;)

[Piggy]

I don't have any problem with it. It shouldn't be about the money or the fine, it should be about correcting a driving problem which is a danger to others.

If I make $250,000 a year and I get a speeding fine of $100, I really wouldn't care. Now if I make $20,000 a year and I get a speeding fine of $100, I really would care.

I'm not suggesting rich people get a higher fine, I just think the system should have other options.

[farmgirl]

Fair enough; I guess either way you're taking ownership of your poor decision making and (hopefully) learning enough from it to correct behaviour patterns - as opposed to sloughing responsibility off onto someone or something else.
Thanks for your opinions; it's always good to have a different way of looking at things!

[SnapShawt]

I agree that volunteering is a GREAT thing and more people should do it more often. However, it you are doing it in lieu of fine payment, then there will of course be a set time limit in which you have to get it done. It SHOULD be that way. Otherwise, you could say, "Oh, I'll get around to it, thanks for giving me community service instead of the fine." Imagine how many would never "get around to it"!

[phantasm]

I personally couldn't care less what the sentence is for a guilty plea or conviction to a moving violation is. Its the violent crimes where they get probation that annoy me. Whether the person is convicted, or found not guilty, I still get paid the same. Whether they pay the fine or not, I still get paid the same. It doesn't affect my license, and since I work in NYC, chances are I won't even encounter the same person again.

[pac201]

We offer community service as a way to keep the infraction off your driving record. (ins. rates go up if it goes on your record) I have also found that I would rather have a teenager washing cars and cleaning up nasty jail cells as a learning experience rather than Mom or Dad paying a fine...

[farmgirl]

I see what you mean about having a set time limit in which to do community service hours; I also get what you're saying about teens having to do community service to make sure they're the ones who are having to pay for their infraction as opposed to their parents! Never occured to me before now though...