What’s wrong with making a little money?

The DeKalb City Council does not see anything wrong with it. That’s why fines for underaged drinking were increased at last week’s city council meeting.

The increases will not take effect until March 12, but after that any minors caught possessing or drinking alcohol will be fined $100, a $40 hike from what would be payed now. The minimum fine for misrepresenting age or delivering alcohol to a minor will go up $90 to $150.

DeKalb police dealt with almost one case per day last year involving minors drinking alcohol, and City Attorney Ron Matekaitis said he believes the only way to curb the violations is “to hit them (minors) in the pocketbook.”

However, 6th Ward Alderman Jamie Pennington and 7th Ward Alderman (the two student aldermen on the council) are against the fine hike because they say the council is selling the increase as a deterrent to these crimes when its actual purpose is that of revenue stimulator.

The added revenue for the city from the fine increase would turn out to be a fraction of a fraction of DeKalb’s total budget, but it could be money put towards some useful purpose. And no matter what the increase’s central purpose is, an extra $40 will probably deter some people from breaking the law.

No morals are being stretched here. The fact is that the city might help to solve a big problem and pick up a little pocket change while doing it.