So there is a story today on the CBC news website regarding the “Street racing law” here in Ontario link. It reports that only about 33% of those charged with the offense are ever convicted. The accused are still stuck with the costs of towing and impounding (for 1 week) of their vehicle, regardless of whether they have been convicted or not. The article cites the case of a motorcycle driver who was stuck in traffic, drove between cars to get out of it(!?!) and subsequently was charged with the offense.
It ended up costing him more than $2,000 even though the original charge was not upheld (it was reduced to an illegal lane change – a $600 fine).
Now people are crying foul, because they are being stuck with a bill even though they may have gotten off the charge.
My first thought of this is that it is a little unfair to be charged monetarily for a charge that doesn’t hold up in court. However, I think about it again and it seems perfectly fair actually.
To be charged with this you have to be observed doing something that is patently wrong – driving 50km/h over the speed limit, driving very aggressively, etc. The fact that Judges in Ontario are easily swayed by X-Coppers and other such companies who help offenders reduce or eliminate their charges (many times on something that has nothing to do with the offense in question), or perhaps do not agree with the law or may feel lenient towards an offender does not mean it’s wrong for the offender to pay the bill for towing and impounding his or her car.
In our world today it seems that everyone shirks responsibility for their actions. There is a distressingly increasing non-willingness of our society to stand up and admit that we were in the wrong – that we’ve offended and need to pay the price of our actions. It is everywhere – people arguing tickets in court, parking in restricted parking spots “just for a minute”, blah blah – the list goes on ad nauseum and is prevalent in all facets of modern life.
I recently got a speeding ticket. I noticed that there was incorrect information on it. I was angry (mostly at myself for not having my insurance on me - another $75!!!) and didn’t want to pay it. After cooling off, I decided that I would pay it, after admitting to myself that I made a stupid mistake. The fact is that I probably could have gone to court and at least had it reduced, if not thrown out. But why? Why can’t everyone admit that they’ve made a mistake? Why does everyone have an excuse or a way to remove their responsibility?
I once had a law teacher in high school who said “The criminal mind is not the one that conceives the crime – it is the one that conceives the defense”.
Truer words were never spoken.
