I have a question. Is a speeding ticket a tax or a penalty? Your thoughts? If so, why or why not?

[rheged]

12.5% or YOUR compensation gets sucked into the “Social Security” Scheme every payday……

[porter]

penalty


Apparently, requiring insurance and a front bumper is now considered a tax.

[mace]

It's a penalty.

[curran]

Penalty.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/penalty_vs_tax_health_care_law.html

[westbroc90]

that depends. Does the IRS collect the fine? Has the Supreme Court said the ticket is allowable because the government has the power to impose taxes? If the answer to both is "YES," then it's a tax.

[jolie]

A ticket is a penalty for a crime.

Not paying your penalty for not having health insurance is not a crime, and does not have criminal or civil penalties.

From the PPACA:

(2) SPECIAL RULES.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law—
‘‘(A) WAIVER OF CRIMINAL PENALTIES.—In the case of any failure by a taxpayer to timely pay any penalty imposed by this section, such taxpayer shall not be subject to any criminal prosecution or penalty with respect to such failure.

[plys]

It's primarily a source of much needed revenue for many communities