[mindslight]

And from that thread it seems per-state ("CA did away with jury trials for infractions long ago"), while the US constitution is country wide. Apparently some states that I'm unfamiliar with allow the option to better preserve their illusion.

Also witness how the officers gleefully go about trampling the 5th amendment:

> Rejoice in the fact that, win or lose: ... It's still going to cost the violator more for the attorney than the fine will be.

Yet another example of the effect I'm describing - de jure it makes sense as it's one's own responsibility to pay for an attorney. de facto it constitutes an extrajudicial punishment that police directly acknowledge.