The value of remorse: how drivers' responses to police predict fines for speeding.
After they stop drivers for exceeding the speed limit, police often have the discretion to alter the penalty. We investigated the degree to which extra-legal factors (apologies and other verbal responses), in addition to speed over the limit, predict ticket costs for speeding. Surveys of speeders were conducted in the U.S. and Canada. The data suggest that what people say to police matters. Participants who reported statements of remorse, e.g., "I'm sorry," received lower fines for speeding. The relation of speeders' responses to ticket costs is discussed from legal and psychological perspectives.
Day
Martin V
MV
Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, N2L 3G1, ON, Canada. mvday@uwaterloo.ca
Ross
Michael
M
D000054:Acceleration; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D002170:Canada; D003142:Communication; D003415:Crime / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009864:Ontario; D016495:Police; D013334:Students; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult