DC fined me $75 for littering after I put some things out for a bulk trash pickup my neighbor had arranged. The city actually collected the trash. As far as I know, I did nothing wrong.
Still, I was perfectly happy to pay $75 rather than waste time fighting it. But the citation didn't even mention an online payment portal. When I asked ChatGPT how to deal with it, it found that the online filing portal appeared to be down for maintenance, but offered to submit an "admit with explanation" response by email.
I said sure. It prepared the paperwork, attached the citation, and emailed the administrative hearings office.
It was significantly easier than paying the fine.
This is a fascinating reversal of the traditional asymmetry between citizens and government. The state has automated issuing fines, while citizens have had to manually navigate cumbersome appeals processes. AI makes responding almost frictionless.
If everyone starts doing this, not as a protest but simply because it's easier, governments will face a deluge of procedurally valid responses where they previously collected revenue with little effort.
Things are going to get interesting.