I hear you on the probability of getting caught. We’re also very much a results oriented culture when it comes to punishments (like speeding, drunk driving, many other reckless activities). Basically a sentence is a light slap on the wrist/fine if you’re “lucky” and avoid the bad outcomes of a reckless activity and you get massive jail sentences if you’re “unlucky” and cause the bad outcome. I’m very much in favour of evening that out more - punish more on expected negative value of the activity and less on actual result (this obviously still needs to be a factor). It’s also why I’m in favour of things like photo radar or punishments like speed limiting/gps tracking - if we increase the odds of catching people we don’t need as severe consequences for this few people we do catch. Particularly because I’m not sure many people even think of the “EV” of reckless driving rather than just think they won’t get caught at all.
So for ridiculous speeding my answer would be something like one month jail sentence on first offence, 6 month license suspension, course on impacts of dangerous driving, and maybe a technological limitation on any car you drive. Absolutely escalate from there.
I know one person in high school (before street racing laws) that was caught doing 160+ in an 80. They got off light (because in many parts of the country being from a privileged background will do that for you) but honestly society is much better for it. They were legitimately terrified of what could have happened (lost job, unable to go to school far away, money, etc.) and never did anything like that again. (Edit: In case it wasn’t clear, I do actually think many of these people caught in first offence will legitimately change. I think they think they won’t get caught and they won’t cause an accident. And getting caught and facing real penalties changes their perspective. I’d be interested to see data though.)
I think of this often because too often we look at the inequity in the justice system and point to harder punishments to make things equal. But it sure would be nice if we could show leniency to people of all backgrounds that make these types of mistakes (even really dumb ones like this) because society (I think) would generally be much better for it. (Obligatory note that not all dumb mistakes are created equal - when your dumb mistake knowingly hurts someone that’s a different situation).
Sorry, this was a tangent.
So for ridiculous speeding my answer would be something like one month jail sentence on first offence, 6 month license suspension, course on impacts of dangerous driving, and maybe a technological limitation on any car you drive. Absolutely escalate from there.
I know one person in high school (before street racing laws) that was caught doing 160+ in an 80. They got off light (because in many parts of the country being from a privileged background will do that for you) but honestly society is much better for it. They were legitimately terrified of what could have happened (lost job, unable to go to school far away, money, etc.) and never did anything like that again. (Edit: In case it wasn’t clear, I do actually think many of these people caught in first offence will legitimately change. I think they think they won’t get caught and they won’t cause an accident. And getting caught and facing real penalties changes their perspective. I’d be interested to see data though.)
I think of this often because too often we look at the inequity in the justice system and point to harder punishments to make things equal. But it sure would be nice if we could show leniency to people of all backgrounds that make these types of mistakes (even really dumb ones like this) because society (I think) would generally be much better for it. (Obligatory note that not all dumb mistakes are created equal - when your dumb mistake knowingly hurts someone that’s a different situation).
Sorry, this was a tangent.