Income based fines are used elsewhere [1] to try and counter some of these issues. Not sure of the barriers for this type of approach in the US but I think it would be more effective than flat fines with leniency for lower-income offenders which seem to be the approach often taken.
For the CA bill: "People who meet certain income or housing criteria can also receive deductions of these fines anywhere from 50 to 80%." [2] This seems much less effective than something that is based on income.
There are some potential constitutional barriers to income based fines in the US such as the excessive fines clause: “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”
Of course we don’t know how courts will rule on this since it hasn’t been tried.
Of course we don’t know how courts will rule on this since it hasn’t been tried.