Opinion ID: 878276
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Escalating fines

Text: The relevant Missoula parking meter ordinances were discussed above. The municipal court declared unconstitutional the $10.00 fine assessable upon the issuance of an arrest warrant, and the city has not appealed from that decision. The district court left undisturbed the penalty imposed by the municipal court. The pertinent issue raised in defendant's appeal is the validity of those provisions of the ordinances which increase the fine for failure to make payment or an appearance within the time limits stated. In our view, those provisions are in violation of the basic principle of criminal law that punishment must be for the violation itself and must be proportional to the gravity of the offense. They are designed not to punish for the offense, but to encourage early payment of the fine. While such a scheme may be acceptable in enforcing civil penalties, we hold that the escalating fine provisions of the Missoula ordinances violate Article II, Section 28 of the Montana Constitution, which provides that laws for the punishment of crime shall be founded on principles of prevention and reformation.