A Fort Wayne police officer with a history of traffic offenses has pleaded guilty to an infraction after his vehicle fatally injured a pedestrian who was in a crosswalk.

The officer was previously disciplined 4 times for other driving offenses, but killing someone - well - $35.50 oughta cover it.

  • sph@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    10 months ago

    Isn’t the fine for the traffic violation? The compensation from a civil lawsuit will follow I presume.

    This makes sense in my opinion. Violating traffic rules should result in the same fine regardless of whether you hit someone or not (like drunk driving isn’t more OK just because you got lucky and didn’t happen to hit anyone). But if you do hit someone, expect to compensate all costs and damages to that person or family on top of the fine (that goes to the state).

    That said, I wish traffic violations would be fined much more harshly. Also if you didn’t hit anyone during your reckless behaviour.

    • Haywire@lemm.eeEnglish
      3·
      10 months ago

      It does make sense. He should probably also have been charged with manslaughter or reckless endangerment.