Across the country, state and local governments use fines and fees as a source of revenue to fund public services. But reliance upon this taxation by citation is not only a threat to individual liberty, it can also undermine public safety and result in fiscal instability. A new Reason Foundation policy brief shows why using fines and fees to generate government revenue undermines justice and fiscal responsibility in California. Fines and fees are commonplace throughout the justice system. In many cases, fines are considered desirable because they are an intermediate form of punishment. Slapping someone with a fine is less severe than incarceration but is tough punishment for many low-level offenses. A person may be charged a fine for criminal or civil infractions. In addition to fines, a person might also be charged a host of assessments, fees, and surcharges explicitly intended to raise government revenue and offset the costs of administrating the justice system.
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