fritz:
noone1:
apias:
I don't see any problem with progressive fines. If anything, it seems a very natural, and just, system for a democracy, where everyone is to be treated equally under the law. The whole point of fines being to deter and punish certain behaviors, the punishment should be of equal severity -- i.e., equal pain -- regardless of wealth and income, otherwise, as pointed out, the entire system degenerates into a farce where breaking the law only requires an insignificant, token payment for some, whereas, for others, it's a painful burden. Or, in other words, for some a deterrence and for others a minor accounting annoyance.
Traffic fines are not to deter, they are merely to punish. That's why most places have some sort of points system. Give him a normal fine and suspend his license.
As Itsme added in his post above, the fake licence plate was just the start of the issue. German number plates bear an official decal which is applied by the car licencing authority responsible for issuing registration numbers. Because the authority concerned would have refused to put this decal onto his plastic film number plate he obviously forged a copy of the one which would have been applied to his original metal plate and then put it on himself.
The offence is then the falsification of an official document, not just a minor traffic offence like driving around without a front number plate.
If he had been caught doing something like this at a younger age it could have ruined his career, so you could say that he got off lightly. (He had been the CEO of a large automotive parts supplier).
It helps to know more than the bare minimum of facts and to understand the context.
Still, there is no justification for this fine, none at all.
However, this is how German law works (and sometimes in other regions not much differently).
Another example: Well known German soccer player Rummenigge had to pay a fine of 249000 EUR for "smuggling" two used Rolex watches through Munich airport. Apparently he wasn't able to explain where the used watches were coming from, he is a well known watch collector and he then claimed that he got them as a gift from someone outside the EU. Not only had he to pay 19% VAT and customs but on top, the 249000 EUR fine. The total value of the watches was 100000 EUR. So around 300000 EUR, three times the value of the watches in fines and customs fees. He also has a prior now.
The fun part is: If you get stopped at a German airport with an expensive piece of jewelry and you cannot explain where it comes from, you (not customs) have to prove that you bought it within Germany (or the EU) and if you can't (let's say the jeweler is broke and doesn't exist anymore and you have no receipts anymore), you're going to court and will pay for it, incl. the prior I mentioned because this is considered tax evasion. Good luck. This can happen to anyone traveling to Germany or inside the EU with expensive watches or jewelry, don't think this can happen to Germans only. If you get in trouble with a customs officer, he can put you in a lot of sh.t.
I get it, people need to be punished (if not for breaking the law, for being stupid ) but three times the value of the watches and a prior? This is just ridiculous.
If you kill someone in Germany, you probably get away with a limited sentence and no fine at all if you have a good lawyer. In Germany, sometimes tax evaders get more prison time than killers (manslaughter), which in my opinion is insane as well. Three years for manslaughter but five years for tax evasion? Something is very wrong.
If a democracy wants to survive, people need to understand the laws and the punishments. If they don't, we have a problem.
Btw: Aren't we always told that all people are equal? So why different fines? Something is wrong, very wrong.
--
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 991 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, Porsche Macan Turbo, Ford Mustang GT500 Shelby SVT (2014), Mini JCW (2015), Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT (2014)