Indiana: City Threatens $2500 Fines for Challenging Traffic Tickets

[StlouisX50]

Indiana: City Threatens $2500 Fines for Challenging Traffic Tickets
Lawyer sues traffic and parking courts in Indianapolis, Indiana over threatened $2500 penalty for contesting a ticket in court.

Motorists who receive minor parking or traffic tickets in Indianapolis, Indiana are being threatened with fines of up to $2500 if they attempt to take the ticket to court. A local attorney with the firm Roberts and Bishop was so outraged by what he saw in Marion County traffic court that he filed a class action suit yesterday seeking to have the practice banned as unconstitutional.

"The deck is stacked against the motorist," lawyer Paul K. Ogden wrote. "To penalize that person for seeking justice seems wrong. I know it is done for the purpose of discouraging baseless challenges to tickets and clogging the docket, but in the process you are also penalizing people who have a legitimate defense and want a chance to present it to the court."

The city made explicit the threat of additional fines for challenging parking tickets in a November 30 press release announcing a deal between Indianapolis and a private firm, T2 Systems, to hand over operations of a parking ticket court to increase municipal income.

"Using Six Sigma process improvement strategies, it is estimated that under this program the city may collect an additional $352,000 to $520,000 in parking citation revenue over the next 12 months," the city press release stated. "If citations are not paid prior to their scheduled hearing, the city may request a fine of up to $2500 per citation. Upon receiving a judgment for an unpaid citation, individuals responsible could be subject to collections actions or having their vehicle registration suspended."

In traffic court, Judge William Young has been making good on the threats by routinely siding with police officers in disputes and imposing fines of up to $500 on anyone who challenges a moving violation ticket, no matter how minor, and loses. Those who pay without going to court do not face this extra fine.

"Unfortunately what you have happen a lot of times is that judges aren't particularly worried about whether what they're doing may be violating the law as the odds of someone ever appealing a $400 traffic ticket is remote," Ogden wrote. "I see it all the time. Trial judges flouting the law knowing they are unlikely to ever be challenged on an appeal because the litigants can't afford it."

Ogden is specifically representing three motorists affected by court policies. Toshinao Ishii received a ticket for driving 63 MPH in a 55 zone in February. Had he paid the ticket without challenge, the fine would have been $150. After Judge Young sided with the police officer in court, Ishii was fined $550. Motorist Matthew Stone was told by his doctors not to wear a seatbelt over his chest as it could damage his cardiac pacemaker. He received a $25 ticket for not wearing a seatbelt. After court officials threatened Stone with a $500 fine, he gave up his intention of challenging the citation. Adam Lenkowsky, who did not receive a ticket, attempted to attend a traffic court proceeding on September 23, 2009. He was barred from the court, despite the state constitutional requirement that court proceedings be open.

Ogden argues the court's practices in the first two cases violate the excessive fines clause of the state constitution as well as the clause requiring that "all penalties shall be proportioned to the nature of the offense."

[lugnuts]

it is nice to see someone standing up to these kangaroo traffic courts.

[StlouisX50]

it is nice to see someone standing up to these kangaroo traffic courts.

For sure, that $2500 could be construed as gouging.

[milkman]

Yes this is for sure screwing the motorist's.

[Maestro]

that is one way to make sure people never contest a ticket, pay the ticket or will hit you with more fines. Once that happens you know the police will write tickets like crazy since no one will want to pay $2500 to get their day in court.

[The Chariot]

It's yet another example of what's become of the Constitution. Politicians are no longer concerned with it --- its no longer the law of the land, but rather its an inconvenience in the process of robbing the citizens of their money.

[rocky2]

This sounds like something they would do up here in South Bend, I am surprised it's happening in Indy first. I hope they stop it there, because in a few years I am sure this tactic will spread to other cities and states in the area.

[milkman]

It's yet another example of what's become of the Constitution. Politicians are no longer concerned with it --- its no longer the law of the land, but rather its an inconvenience in the process of robbing the citizens of their money.

This is complete BS of them robbing the citizens if their money. The politicians and city officials forget that we as tax paying citizens are the ones paying their salary.

[partsfreak]

Let them keep it up and when the people FINALLY have had enough the revolution will commence.

[languy99]

Let them keep it up and when the people FINALLY have had enough the revolution will commence.

I am thinking the same thing, people will be more likely to run from the cops, and try other crazy things to avoid paying these fees. You know, some of these fees could easily push into the cruel and unusual punishment if someone goes to jail for not having the money to pay it.

And another thing, I never understood how making someone go to jail if they don't have money to pay a fee is better, all you are doing is costing the state more money becasue now they have to house, feed and provide medical care for free to inmates.