I'm not opposed to your view, though it calls to mind that many with the money to pay fines don't look at those activities as bad/illegal/criminal, but simply taxed (as you say).
I'd prefer we did away with the 'crime' aspect of it all and just say "you can park anywhere in the city you want -- designated or not -- for about $1000/hr, and after 10 hours or more, your car may be moved to a more secure location for storage at a service fee of another couple $1000". If we're supposed to be a capitalist society, I'd think we could be honest about it and just hang price tags on behavior communities don't want but that don't belong in any book detailing the punishments for various kinds of murder.
I'd prefer we did away with the 'crime' aspect of it all and just say "you can park anywhere in the city you want -- designated or not -- for about $1000/hr, and after 10 hours or more, your car may be moved to a more secure location for storage at a service fee of another couple $1000". If we're supposed to be a capitalist society, I'd think we could be honest about it and just hang price tags on behavior communities don't want but that don't belong in any book detailing the punishments for various kinds of murder.