Excessive Late Fees - Nebraska Constitution Article I §9
Nebraska Constitution Article I §9 prohibits 'excessive fines.' Where parking citations have ballooned with late fees and admin charges to grossly disproportionate amounts (e.g., $15 expired meter grown to $400+), the total may be challenged as constitutionally excessive. State v. Smith, 282 Neb. 720, applies a proportionality test. Timbs v. Indiana, 586 U.S. 146 (2019), incorporates the federal Excessive Fines Clause against states.
Legal basis
Neb. Const. Art. I §9; U.S. Const. Amend. VIII; Timbs v. Indiana, 586 U.S. 146 (2019); State v. Smith, 282 Neb. 720
Sample appeal wording
TO: [Court] RE: MOTION TO REDUCE FINE - EXCESSIVE FINES CLAUSE Dear Honorable Judge, I move for reduction under Neb. Const. Art. I §9 and U.S. Const. Amend. VIII. FACTS: - Original fine: $[X] - Total demanded: $[Y] - Multiplier: [Y/X]x Under Timbs v. Indiana, 586 U.S. 146 (2019), and State v. Smith, 282 Neb. 720, a fine grossly disproportionate to the offense is unconstitutional. I request reduction to original fine of $[X]. Respectfully, [NAME]
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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- Neb. Const. Art. I §9
- U.S. Const. Amend. VIII
- Timbs v. Indiana, 586 U.S. 146
- State v. Smith, 282 Neb. 720