> That is, drivers are cited and forced to pay a fine simply for increasing the odds of an accident happening. The accident need not actually have occurred I

> That is, drivers are cited and forced to pay a fine simply for increasing the odds of an accident happening. The accident need not actually have occurred I don't know about the US, but in Germany there are many cases where you can be fined for decreasing safety, even if no accidents happened. For example obstruction of escape ways, violations of fire safety rules, organizing large events without the required quota of paramedics present and so on. Another category is the possession of weapons without permit, which is illegal even if you haven't shot anybody.