Traffic Fines or Traffic Profits?

I got a speeding ticket in one of those Podunk "speed-traps" today. You know - the kind where the limit suddenly drops from 55 to 45 MPH. I was driving 59 MPH. Coincidentally (or not), there was a police officer monitoring speed just inside the 45 MPH zone. Okay, let's get something straight - I'm not under the impression that I'm above the law - so please don't mistake the nature of this blog. Here's my problem - why are citizens being manipulated (harassed) to generate revenue by way of traffic fines in these small towns? Is there not enough revenue generated via sales, income, property and other taxes? We've all heard the propaganda when citizens complain. "They're not going to remove those red light-cameras or stop using speed-traps because it's a cash machine." This is a strategic method of manipulating the law to impose fines on citizens, and I think it's unconstitutional. This is as inefficient and lazy in nature as La. Governor Bobby Jindal's "voucher" program that's supposed to mitigate the effect of under-performing students, but I'll save that for another blog. Many will argue in the government's favor, suggesting that we should follow the law, and never dare to question it. "We don't make the rules," they say. Such a mentality by citizens is dangerous to society as a whole, and our future. Tyranny and maliciousness has existed in government across the globe for thousands of years, and it must be kept in check. One of my favorite quotes by Benjamin Franklin is (paraphrased) "Those who trade liberty for security will have neither." The judicial system should not be engaged in profiteering via traffic or any other fines. Fiscal policy, funded by civil and just taxation, should be in place to ensure the necessities like infrastructure, education, and law enforcement. Fines generated by the judicial system should merely be a bonus, and distributed to society as such. Watch out for those speed traps, and God Bless America!