According to the Mikado in the Gilbert and Sullivan opera, "My object all sublime, I will achieve in time, to make the punishment fit the crime!" I wish the Mikado well, but making a penalty for a misdeed is very tricky and not easily done.

Every day families of crime victims cry out against lenient sentences issued by sitting judges on the guilty. The opposite is also found in the same newspaper articles. The convicted and their lawyers scream to the heavens that the sentence was too severe.

Recently I was made too aware of the "fine schedule" for guilty pleas in traffic court. The "fine schedule" included the mandatory surcharge imposed by New York State law. Why is there a surcharge? Beats me!

Every fine was over $100. Some were well over $200. As an example, a cell phone violation was $155. A seat belt violation was $100. Riding in the sacred HOV lane was $205. Does this have any relationship to reality? Are these fines paying for town services or even for judges' salaries? Whatever happened to the $50 or $60 ticket?

Driving improperly or at high speeds should require a fine because the driver is putting himself and other people in danger. Who is being put in danger when a single driver is given a ticket for not having another passenger in his vehicle?

The housing market on Long Island is in an exaggerated state of inflation. Residents are carrying themselves as millionaires even though their real estate (the home) has not yet been sold. Are the judges deeming these people "millionaires" and levying fines in a ratio with home prices?

When that final "real estate bubble" pops, will these heavy fines be reduced and will fiscal sanity return to the courtrooms of Long Island? (I doubt it.)

Again I repeat. Let the unsafe driver be punished. But, an expired inspection sticker should not be lumped together with speeding or tailgating as a huge penalty in terms of a monetary fine.

Even Alan Greenspan has trouble with national inflation. The lesson learned from fining excessively is sometimes counter-productive.

"Let the punishment fit the crime!"