[torstenvl]

The 5th amendment (or rather the 14th in this case) requires "due process" before taking your life, liberty, or property.

As is probably intuitive, the process that is "due" for taking property, which is less than is "due" for taking liberty, which is still somewhat less than is "due" for taking life. (This latter hasn't always been the case, but read Brennan's concurrence in Furman v. Georgia and progeny cases establishing the death-is-different axiom of American criminal jurisprudence.)

A property interest that doesn't implicate any liberty interest may be taken with a bare minimum of due process, often just notice and an opportunity to be heard. If a hearing is granted, the standard is a preponderance (not beyond a reasonable doubt).

I assume the penalty for your speeding ticket was a fine only, yes?

[notch656a]

You're right, it was a fine only.

Personally I disagree that property doesn't implicate liberty. I toiled for hours, perhaps days to pay these fines. I was deprived of liberty for however long I was forced to labor to pay the fine. Also it's worth noting the citation itself was filed against me specifically, not my property. This is in contrast to something like 'US vs $500 on a dashboard.'

But yes I do understand the legal system treats these cases distinctly.

[MichaelBurge]

There's people that argue they shouldn't have to pay income tax because wages from labor is an exchange of life duration for money, so it should be a sale of assets and not pure income.

So just think of the fine as a forced liquidation, so it's back to property again.

[ncmncm]

Due process utterly failed to save the lives of the unconvicted and unindicted American citizens Anwar al-Awlaki, his 16-year-old son, (both blown up by remote control) or his 8-year-old daughter (shot in the neck), all three murdered under constitutionally indefensible Presidential order. None of the principals or co-conspirators has yet been prosecuted.