Did you know that traffic tickets went up significantly on Jan. 1? Me neither. But a number of news stories from around the country confirm that many states are raising fines on drivers to help cover their budget shortfall.
Yes, our states are nickel and diming us to balance their budgets.
In California, drivers with a broken tail light can now get slapped with a $100 fee. It used to be $0. Connecticut already started handing out more speeding tickets. Florida is considering taking away discounts for those who attend traffic school. Wisconsin wants to make drunk drivers pay more. Georgia lawmakers are proposing many new car-related fees.
Not every state is out to get drivers. Arkansas is going after smokers. Minnesota wants to cut arts funding. And New York wants to tax tickets to the movies, concerts, bowling and to play golf!
Whatever happened to spending less?
Thanks, Lynda!
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
I just got a photo ticket for supposely running a red light in Calif. I have not had a traffic ticket for anything in over 30 years. This ticket will cost me 486.00, what a bunch of CRAP!!!!
Yeah, and don’t forget that your insurance rates will go up because of the ticket. So your actual costs are much higher.
The state of California needs to come up with a way to go after all the people who choose not to register their cars in the state of California when they move here. Tons of lost revenue. I propose fine of $100.00 per year for each year they fail to register the car. We then need to see when they started filing taxes for the state of California to determine the amount of the fine. Also we should have a reward system to RAT them out. The DMV could credit our year renewal by $10.00 per car we submit. I could make $50.00 with in my neighborhood for sure and $20.00 from a friend in NOHO who has to cars. It’s time the state plugs up the holes and this is a big one, take a drive and count the cars with out of state plates.
Linda is so right! Also, many cars have NO license plates.
Bill can keep his insurance rates from going up, assuming his record is otherwise unblemished, by going to traffic school. This can be done either in person or online. If the latter, he can take the required course at his convenience as long as he completes it before his deadline.
I am curious as to how he “supposedly” ran a red light if there is photo evidence of it.