# Why are traffic fines such goofball numbers like $138.20?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 9, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-traffic-fines-such-goofball-numbers-like-138-20/206482 "2003-10-09T14:12:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-traffic-fines-such-goofball-numbers-like-138-20/206482/1 "2003-10-09T14:12:07Z")
How do they come up with the fine amount? I recieved an illegal u-turn ticket for $77.40. I remeber a speeding ticket I got a few years back that was like $118.20. Parking tickets seem to be rounded off to $5, $10, $15 or $20, why are moving violations such odd numbers? What`s going on here? ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-traffic-fines-such-goofball-numbers-like-138-20/206482/2 "2003-10-09T14:22:06Z")
I believe that Australian fines are indexed to inflation. They were probably nice, round figures many decades ago. I’m guessing it’s a similar story in the United States. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-traffic-fines-such-goofball-numbers-like-138-20/206482/3 "2003-10-09T15:01:31Z")
I would tend to think the fines represent specific labor related charges and other arbitrarily indexed court fees that do not necessarily factor in round numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-traffic-fines-such-goofball-numbers-like-138-20/206482/4 "2003-10-09T15:36:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > \*\*I would tend to think the fines represent specific labor related charges and other arbitrarily indexed court fees that do not necessarily factor in round numbers. \*\* Right, but what is the structure in which the fines are based on? ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-traffic-fines-such-goofball-numbers-like-138-20/206482/5 "2003-10-09T15:40:11Z")
I’ve received citations for moving violations in MD, DC and VA and it’s always been a nice, round dollar figure. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-traffic-fines-such-goofball-numbers-like-138-20/206482/6 "2003-10-09T15:42:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > \*\*I would tend to think the fines represent specific labor related charges and other arbitrarily indexed court fees that do not necessarily factor in round numbers. \*\* That’s pretty much it. The basic fine may be $85, but then you add on the CHP’s administrative fee of 3.5% and the local court’s fee of fifteen bucks and the 1.2% that goes to traffic safety education funds and so on… and it all adds up to a wierd amount. I’ve never received anything worse than a $35 parking ticket, so the numbers above are made up, but at least it gives an idea of what’s going on. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-traffic-fines-such-goofball-numbers-like-138-20/206482/7 "2003-10-09T16:34:02Z")
Maybe they are adding on the tip? Seriously, in Nevada the sum is always an even dollar amount. Never heard of the $138.20 ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-traffic-fines-such-goofball-numbers-like-138-20/206482/8 "2003-10-09T16:46:22Z")
I’ve only received a handful of traffic tickets in my life, but they were all round numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-traffic-fines-such-goofball-numbers-like-138-20/206482/9 "2003-10-09T22:05:00Z")
In WA, the fine for not wearing your seatbelt was just increased from $86 to $101.