OPINION/I.V. Op-Ed
By Jason Howard
For many years, psychologists have studied a social phenomenon called diffusion of responsibility. The theory states that in response to a moral dilemma, large groups of people choose inaction over action, apathy over empathy.
As an individual assesses the number of people who could respond to an emergency, the personal responsibility of that person diffuses across the group, and nothing is done.
The implications of this phenomenon are frightening. For example, as a group grows larger, 911 is less likely to be called after a car accident.
Sadly, bureaucracies have understood this aspect of human nature for many years, and have used it to their advantage.
“This is an outrage!! How can they get away with this?”
“How can they think this is fair?”
"I’m sure someone is doing something to put an end to this…Right?”
Unfortunately, no one has. Our collective decision to pass the buck has resulted in a bloated, inefficient and incompetent local government. Consequently, the city of Baltimore treats its constituents as either too stupid, too lazy, or both. There can be no other explanation to justify how this city has treated its citizens. If City Hall were truly concerned that we would voice our opinions in an organized manner, the usurious fine structure currently associated with the city’s parking tickets would not have been institutionalized, or even worse, defended.
Within the framework of the current fine structure, you would be on safer financial ground borrowing money from a loan shark. The laws against charging usurious interest rates on debt do not apply here, as the city adds a seemingly innocuous flat fee each month to delinquent accounts. The justification for this system follows that as each fine is added to the growing total, it represents a smaller and smaller percentage of the original fine. The city actually had the bravery to use that logic in a court of law. Consequently, we are subject to a fee schedule that approximates a one-year APR of 652 percent for a parking ticket. When challenged, the city responded by referring to this as a viable means of funding the city during tough economic times.
When faced with our current economic reality, the city chose to lean on us to bail them out. If the fines associated with these violations accumulate infinitely, where is the motivation for the city to settle these debts? If one year of procrastination with 183,000 violations profits the city $35 million, why settle? Wait for a financial emergency, hire an efficient law firm to collect your winnings, and offer them 20 percent for their efforts. The city has ultimately issued itself a blank check filled out to “CASH.”
Surprisingly, there are those who support the city’s actions. They charge that most of the 80,000 people who supposedly owe $132 million intentionally neglected their civic duties. It follows that if the city were to extend a ticket amnesty program, no one will ever pay their parking tickets. On the surface, this argument is sound, yet short-sighted, as it rests on a tenuous supposition: The city is perfectly efficient and accountable for all its actions. Following the MVA license plate scandal, the fake parking ticket fiasco, and the numerous accounting errors committed by City Hall, we have been shown time and time again that the city should not be trusted with the power it has afforded itself. Keep in mind, these are the people who currently possess the right to fine you in perpetuity and also determine whether they will grant you a chance to fight these charges in court.
However, a recent development has arisen that will allow the citizens of Baltimore to change the status quo, and end these egregious policies. The outcome will depend on what action you decide to take. Last May, Councilman Bernard “Jack” Young took the initiative to propose a bill that would cap the fines for parking tickets in Baltimore at five times the face value of the violation. On Monday, Dec. 7 at 5 p.m., a hearing will be held on the fourth floor of City Hall debating this bill. Both sides of the parking ticket debate should be served well by this legislation. Those who choose not to pay their tickets still will be punished, and rightly so. Those wrongly cited by the city and poorly informed of their transgressions will not be charged ad infinitum, clogging the courts with hearing requests.
Councilman Young’s primary concern with this hearing is public attendance. We are all busy. We have jobs, families, and any number of other responsibilities associated with our modern lives. On Monday, Dec. 7, when you’re leaving work, you have a choice to make. The easy decision would involve going home, sitting on the couch, and watching a handful of idealists fight City Hall on the evening news. The other, more difficult decision involves taking part in your democracy. Talk to your co-workers. Attend as a group. Be active. Make a change. This Monday at 5 p.m., take back your personal responsibility to the citizens of Baltimore and have a hand in tearing up that blank check.
Jason Howard is the founder of Baltimore Scofflaws, a group that advocates for lower parking ticket penalities in the city.
