[Walt.]

The reasonable answer is community service instead of fines. It prevents municipalities from using tickets to balance their budgets and is an equal (more fair) headache for those committing the offenses.
Did anyone notice in the State of the Union message the part where "we need to get rid of the loophole that allows the 1% to avoid taxes on their accumulated wealth?" So, if you avoided the "champaign brunches" and the new car every year and instead saved your money you need to be taxed (again) on those savings.