Comment by ChrisMarshallNY
5 hours ago
> … 1868 … $10,000 fine.
If the original 1868 law stated $10,000, that’s insane (equivalent of millions, these days). If not, then that might mean this law has been regularly reviewed and updated, so it’s not just something that was lost in the back of the cabinet.
If laws were written by engineers, all sums of money would be expressed relative to median income.
And at that point it wouldn't be a stretch for most people to make the connection that some people are more privileged than others and fines should be relative to personal wealth and income.
Imagine if laws were written by people who know what a function is...
Australia already does something like this. I don't know if there were any engineers involved in designing it.
https://www.afsa.gov.au/professionals/resource-hub/penalty-u...
>If laws were written by engineers, all sums of money would be expressed relative to median income.
If laws were written by engineers, money would hold its value, and the laws wouldn't require constant adjustment.
You and I must know different engineers.
From https://etsc.eu/billionaires-eur-25000-drink-driving-fine-pu...
> A Norwegian billionaire that recorded a BAC level three times higher than the legal limit has been banned from driving and handed a 250,000 krone fine (EUR 25,000). But the fine could have been much higher as, under Norwegian law, fines are linked to monthly income and in some cases overall wealth.
> Finland has a ‘day fine’ system, with penalties linked to an offender’s wages.