San Francisco’s latest “equity” traffic camera program has sparked outrage by imposing drastically different fines based on income—proving once again that liberal policies punish hardworking Americans while rewarding dependency. Under the new system, drivers caught speeding will face wildly varying penalties: middle-class and wealthy citizens pay the full fine, while those classified as “low-income” or on government assistance receive massive discounts. This blatantly unfair scheme, pushed by California Democrats, is yet another example of the left’s war on personal responsibility and equal justice under the law.
As reported by The Western Journal, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has rolled out 33 new traffic cameras, with a two-month grace period before citations begin. Once enforcement starts, fines will be heavily discounted for those below 200% of the federal poverty level. For example:
11-15 mph over the limit: 50(standard),50(standard),25 (low-income), $10 (public assistance).
16-25 mph over: 100(standard),100(standard),50 (low-income), $20 (public assistance).
26+ mph over: 200(standard),200(standard),100 (low-income), $40 (public assistance).
100+ mph: 500(standard),500(standard),250 (low-income), $100 (public assistance).
Critics rightly argue that this two-tiered justice system is fundamentally unjust. An opinion piece in the Staten Island Advance blasted the policy, stating:
“If you’re caught driving too fast, you have to pay a penalty because you’ve made the roads less safe for your fellow humans. The fine is supposed to sting a little bit. It’s supposed to discourage you from driving too fast in the future. Otherwise, why bother?”
The article further condemned the inequity, warning:
“It doesn’t. In fact, it might encourage some people to keep speeding. And it shows that only some of us, people of means, are responsible for safer roads.”
This is classic California liberalism—penalizing success while incentivizing reckless behavior. Middle-class families already bear the brunt of excessive taxation, yet Democrats keep finding new ways to squeeze them while exempting their favored voter blocs. Where is the accountability? Why should a millionaire and a welfare recipient face different penalties for the same crime?
San Fancisco is launching a new "equity" speed-cam program, backed by Gov. Newsom. pic.twitter.com/Vtw324kDM0
— Thomas Sowell Quotes (@ThomasSowell) April 1, 2025
President Donald Trump has long warned against this kind of socialist-tier wealth redistribution. His America First agenda champions equal treatment under the law, not this divisive, race-to-the-bottom “equity” nonsense. While the left-wing media cheers on San Francisco’s latest experiment in progressive madness, hardworking Americans see it for what it is: yet another attack on fairness, personal responsibility, and the rule of law.
‘Equality under the law’……….isn’t that a principal foundation of America’s justice system? California has turned into a Communist state. Don’t give them one penny of my tax money.