TN Traffic Fines
Mailstamp at The County Ceat says some traffic fines in Tennessee are unconstitutional:
The $200 plus fines that are routinely imposed by the county traffic courts violate the Constitution of the state of Tennessee and are illegal.
Article VI, Section 14 of the Constitution of the state of Tennessee states “No fine shall be laid on any citizen of this state that shall exceed fifty dollars, unless it shall be assessed by a jury of his peers, who shall assess the fine at the time they find the fact, if they think the fine should be more than fifty dollars.”
The Constitution of the state of Tennessee
July 14th, 2006 at 12:54 am
quote from link:
heh!
July 14th, 2006 at 1:40 am
That is awesome. Nothing like a poke in the eye to the nanny state.
July 14th, 2006 at 2:47 pm
ermm …. they aren’t fines.
They are bail. You post the bail … you plead guilty … the court keeps the bail money.
However, appearing court and fighting this looks like a good way to get your fine lowered to $50.
Heh.
July 14th, 2006 at 3:46 pm
Guys – this has been litigated to death. Really. Ya’ll really think that you’re the first in 200 years to think of this? Geez.
July 15th, 2006 at 7:53 pm
It’s really a moot point. I once got a traffic ticket in Pennsylvania. $20 fine, $70 in taxes and fees. So a little legislative magic and the fine is less than $50 but you’ll be $200 or more out of pocket.