Demagogue

According to New Jersey Motor Vehicle Statutes (see pp. 6-8 of this document), someone who drives a vehicle on a suspended license is assessed a fine of at least $500. Someone who drives a vehicle of an "excess weight" is assessed a fine of at least $523.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported:

Over 23 months beginning in February 2004, two dozen miners were hurt in a string of accidents (at W. Virginia's Sago Mine) .... Federal safety inspectors slapped the mine with citations 273 times, or an average of once every 2 1/2 days.

Despite this record, the price paid by Sago's operators was light .... The biggest single fine was $440, about 0.0004 percent of the $110 million net profit reported last year by the mine's current owner, International Coal Group Inc.

According to agency records, federal inspectors issued a total of 18 "withdrawal records" against Sago, forcing the company to temporarily suspend some operations. But in each case, mining was allowed to resume after Sago officials took steps to correct the problems .... The average fine was $150.