I would also argue that having to mount a defense against an accusation is sufficiently punitive (can easily bankrupt) almost any individual in today's society

I would also argue that having to mount a defense against an accusation is sufficiently punitive (can easily bankrupt) almost any individual in today's society (at least in north America). Maybe it's easier to just pay the speeding ticket because to fight it would cost 10x in lawyers fees. That's not justice, it's just economic extortion.