So, Nicole has a driving while suspended because she couldn’t pay to get her tickets amended. So her license got suspended as a result. She has no proof of insurance, because she couldn’t [pay] to get her tickets amendments, so her insurance costs went up, and it was prohibitively expensive. She’s charged with—typically charged with what our clients are charged with, the big three poverty crimes—and they’re not really crimes—but it’s driving while suspended, no proof of insurance, and failure to register vehicle. These are not people who are refusing to comply with the law; they’re people who cannot comply with the law.
[ … ]
And that’s not what the system should be about. We have to divorce the administration of justice from the generation of revenue. And that’s a systemic problem in our region …

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/8/27/is_ferguson_feeding_on_the_poor

After the fact, one often finds oneself with two options. First, pay the Crown the approved penalty – or – pay the shire reeve directly some funds he may use to his own purpose, and in exchange, he reports some lesser crime to the Crown.

The whole sordid thing smacks of the law being held in disrepute by all participants. Except, of course, for the Crown – who responds by making more and more things crimes against the Crown.

On the other hand, plea bargaining speeding to an illegal lane change, or worse, to an equipment violation, is unethical, because the plea is a fiction that bears no resemblance to the initial charge. Each of these unrelated offenses has completely different elements of proof. In my opinion the prosecuting attorneys that suggest these plea deals (and the judges that approve them) should be brought up on ethical charges).

I also believe that a governmental budget that counts on revenue from people breaking the law is also unethical, but that is an entirely different subject.

“I am sort of stunned why this is on Overlawyered, as if it’s something so unusual. Every city that I know of does this. It’s not really as shady as you make out, essentially it’s the same thing as plea-bargaining to a lessor offense in a criminal court. But yes, you need to pay an attorney fee for them to handle it for you.”

I can’t speak to other states, but in Wisconsin where I live. You do not need a lawyer for this.

Wisconsin uses a points system and 12 points in 12 consecutive months means an automatic license suspention.

All you have to do is show up in the municipal or county traffic court. Then excluding DUIs, they will ask for a show of hands for who intends to contest the ticket. Everyone who raises their hand will be offered a plea deal to a lesser charge worth fewer points (you still have to pay the original fine). The only attorney involved is the city/county attorney.

That would remove the incentive of local jurisdictions from using BS harassment / fines as a source of quasi taxes. Let the Government be funded by straight up taxes, period.

But, as long as incentives are there, you can bet that two bit Mayor’s and city / county councils will use Johnny Law to “make a profit” for the jurisdiction.