This Louisiana Town Runs Largely on Traffic Fines. If You Fight Your Ticket, the Mayor Is Your Judge.
propublica.org
Fenton, population 226, brings in over $1 million per year through its mayor’s court, an unusual justice system in which the mayor can serve as judge even though he’s responsible for town finances.
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All the other corruption and such aside, imagine how terrible this is for the urban development of your town.
The municipal government has no incentive to invest in forward-thinking policy that will lead to healthier and more economically sustainable communities. If they invest in any kind of maintenance or developments that increase road safety - and thus decrease fines - it hurts the government's ability to operate. Indeed, they have direct Financial incentive to make the roads less safe. Not to even mention that they have no incentive at all to do things that improved the city in ways that won't affect their traffic fines.
They've committed to giving up on good governance of their small town. They found a way to function by just parasitizing others. They've given up.
It's a town of 226 people, I don't think they're too interested in urban development or anything that would involve taxes instead of extorting out of towners.
Yes this village basically exists to give traffic tickets, and everyone else in the area hates them. Talking about building city infrastructure here is kind of absurd. Sure the mayor-judge could start attempting civil projects, but the 226 residents live there because of how things are now.
It has an elementary school that could use some work. My company re sided the Catholic Church missed in the report. This town also has more than 225 people in it.
They’re basically acting as modern day robber barons.
It's Louisiana, they would go back to 1800 if they could.
The cynic in me feels the need to point out that this is Louisiana we're taking about. This might be the most forward thinking policy they've had for decades.