San Francisco’s latest “equity” traffic camera program is a slap in the face to hardworking Americans, proving once again that liberal policies punish success while rewarding dependency. Under this new scheme, drivers caught speeding will face drastically different fines based on their income—with those on government assistance paying as little as 10∗∗forviolationsthatcostmiddle−classcitizens∗∗50 or more. This isn’t fairness; it’s a blatant double standard that undermines the rule of law and fuels resentment.
As reported by The Western Journal, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has rolled out 33 new traffic cameras, with fines set to begin after a two-month “warning” period. But once the citations start, the penalties will be anything but equal. For example:
- 11-15 mph over the limit: 50(standard),25 (low-income), $10 (public assistance).
- 16-25 mph over: 100(standard),50 (low-income), $20 (public assistance).
- 26+ mph over: 200(standard),100 (low-income), $40 (public assistance).
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100+ mph: 500(standard),250 (low-income), $100 (public assistance).
This is social engineering at its worst, sending the message that accountability applies only to those who dare to earn a living. As one critic noted in the Staten Island Advance:
“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?”
Yet under this system, only the middle class feels the sting. The same outlet rightly points out:
“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 the inevitable result of radical leftist policies that prioritize victimhood over personal responsibility. While President Donald Trump fought for law and order, Democrats in cities like San Francisco are creating a two-tiered justice system where your bank balance determines your consequences.
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
The SFMTA even brags about its “low-income transit fares and fee waivers,” openly admitting that the program benefits those below 200% of the federal poverty level. Meanwhile, the working-class citizens who already shoulder the tax burden are forced to pay full price for the same infractions.
This isn’t about safety—it’s about wealth redistribution and government overreach. If liberals truly cared about road safety, they’d enforce equal penalties for equal violations. Instead, they’re using traffic laws as another tool to divide Americans by class.