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Australia’s traffic fine systems are “criminalizing poverty” with a new report calling for fairer fines by making them proportional to a driver’s income.

Amid cost-of-living pressures, earning a traffic fine could force lower income earners to choose between essentials or paying off the fine, while for high-income earners it could be an annoyance, it says Australia Institute.

The fines are the same for any driver caught speeding depending on their jurisdiction, with NSW offering a 50 per cent discount on some fines for those on government benefits.

A new report from the think tank calls for the introduction of a fairer Finnish traffic fine model in Australia.

It’s unfair that a billionaire has to pay the same $200 fine as someone on a low income, said Alice Grundy, research manager at the institute and co-author of the report.

“Australia’s regressive speeding penalty system effectively criminalises poverty,” she said.

The plan proposes a fine based on speed range, with drivers receiving a higher fine based on their income and whether they have dependents.

NSW drivers currently pay $361 in fines if caught speeding between 10km/h and 19km/h, but under the proposal drivers could be fined ranging from $75 to $885 based on their income.

Accrued unpaid fines can create a vicious cycle, where revocation of the driver’s vehicle registration or driver’s license can lead to a reduced ability to work and pay fines.

“While they are essentially a mosquito bite for the rich, they can be earth-shattering for the poor,” says Zyl Hovenga-Wauchope, director of Financial Counseling Victoria.

A tragic example in Western Australia is the case of the Yamatji woman, Ms Dhu, who died in custody in 2014 because she could not pay the $1000 fine.

The report notes that income-based fines focus on fairness, rather than changing driving behavior, suggesting that warning signs and physical road modifications are more effective.