Saturday, May 22, 2010

Crime and Punishment - another case of inequity or just plain stupid?

A 17 year old kid, acting like many kids do, stepped onto the field during the 8th inning of a Philadelphia vs St Louis game.  You've likely read all about, watched the video several times and thought, how stupid.  I couldn't agree more.  Even after this youngster called his dad on a cell phone and asked him about going on to the field, to which dad advised against it, he went for the run anyways.  Got tasered, arrested and faces a $2,500 fine.  All of which I think he deserved. 
Here's my problem,  In Pennsylvania, the fine for littering is a maximum of $900, and only that much if you dump your trash somewhere important.  Go out in the country to sump your trash and the fine drops to about $300.

Where is the logic in that?  $2500 fine for interrupting a baseball game, no harm to the environment, no one will likely be injured (other than the idiot going on the field when he knew better)....  that does not necessarily make sense to me, but if the fine can serve as a deterrent, that could be good.  Unfortunately, it doesn't look like much of a deterrent, ask Tom Betz, the 34 year old undeterred next night moron in Philly.

I suggest we raise the fine for littering to $5,000 and 1,000 of community service.  After all, that has to be twice as bad as just running onto a ball field.  Maybe we could even borrow some of Sheriff Joe's pink jumpsuits to wear while doing community service.  Come on lawmakers, let's have some balance here and make the fines appropriate... and fitting of the crime.

2 comments:

Phil Gerbyshak said...

Not much sense or equity there Dan. People do dumb stuff, and they get punished. Fit the punishment to the crime, and perhaps you'll deter the crime.

I'm with you...I'd like to see the running on the field crime be much less than the littering crime. Both are stupid though.

A tip: If you really wsnt to make any headway in this area, I'd encourage you to take a read of Cialdini's book influence, and the Heath Brother's Switch, to truly understand why folks do what they do...and maybe, just maybe, how to stop them from doing it.

Dan Greeley said...

Thanks for the feedback Phil, I'll take a look at the recommended books.