F R O M
T H E
S T A T E
A T T O R N E Y
A n d re w H. Wa r re n - S t at e A t t o r n ey f o r t h e T h i r t e e n t h Ju d i c i a l C i rc u i t
Poverty Traps Undermine Public Safety,
Perpetuate Vicious Cycle
Approximately 45 percent of working families in Florida struggle
to afford life’s basic necessities.
A
pproximately 45 percent of working
families in Florida struggle to afford life’s
basic necessities: housing, food, health
care, and transportation. Our working
neighbors are treading water to keep their
heads above poverty, just one unforeseen expense away
from a crisis. Beyond their financial struggles, the working
class are also vulnerable to ending up in the criminal
justice system because of “poverty traps” that effectively
criminalize economic hardship. From driver’s license
suspensions to the imposition of excessive fines and court
fees, Florida is guilty of setting poverty traps that penalize
otherwise law-abiding citizens simply for being poor.
Our office is implementing policies and programs that
decriminalize poverty and reduce the financial burden
on families in Hillsborough County. For example, a red
light ticket in Florida costs approximately $158. That
ticket bumps up to $262 if it is not paid after the
first notification — a 66 percent increase from the cost
of the original ticket. One traffic violation can catapult
someone into a downward spiral of exorbitant fees,
criminal charges, and, in the most extreme cases,
Continued on page 11
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