Posted on 01/02/2009 2:55:54 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Speeding? You'll pay higher 'taxes'
Watch out, leadfoots: Many strapped cities and towns are trying to fix their budgets by stepping up traffic enforcement.
By Christopher Solomon
MSN Money
Here's a tip for the next time you're barreling down U.S. 425 through northeastern Louisiana: If you see a sign that reads "Baskin Town Limits," slow down. Way down.
Baskin has been expecting you.
Between 2004 and 2006, little Baskin (population about 200) got 87% of its town budget from speeding tickets, the highest percentage of 304 Louisiana municipalities surveyed.
"It is primarily a tool in many communities to raise revenue," Louisiana state Rep. Hollis Downs, who represents two parishes in north-central Louisiana, says of the town's aggressive traffic enforcement -- what others might call speed traps.
Baskin is perhaps the most extreme example confirming what you've long suspected: Tickets are often as much about revenue as safety. And now, as a soured economy or other factors further empty coffers, many are turning to law enforcement to serve as part-time tax collectors -- with guns and badges.
Many states and cities no longer even try to hide that fact.
Making up for lost money
Cities, counties and other government agencies have found that there's lots of money to be made in stepped-up traffic enforcement:
* The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority said that it would collect an additional $1.2 million in fines from speeding tickets in 2008 to make up for lost revenue when troopers from the Massachusetts State Police were transferred the previous year to work around Boston's "Big Dig" project.
* In 2006, Massachusetts began a pilot program that rewarded state troopers for giving out tickets as opposed to warnings.
(Excerpt) Read more at articles.moneycentral.msn.com ...
Ping!
Benedict revealed as Catholic, film at 11.
"It is primarily a tool in many communities to raise revenue," Louisiana state Rep. Hollis Downs, who represents two parishes in north-central Louisiana, says of the town's aggressive traffic enforcement -- what others might call speed traps.
Some of my time growing up was in a small town on US 322. Most of the speeding tickets were handed out near my house by State Police - we only had one constable. Travelers would come in at highway speed, having ignored the warning signs of "reduce speed ahead" and "dangerous curve."
Every tree in our front yard bore the scars of vehicle impacts. The guardrail that protected a house on the other end of the curve was taken out a couple times a year. We were finally tagged as a "speed trap" by AAA and it seemed to be somewhat effective in cutting down the number of accidents in the Summer.
They have a monetary incentive for issuing tickets.
There are built in incentives for law enforcement to issue tickets. In a lot of states there are “surcharges” added to each ticket to fund law enforcement activities. These hike the price of an average ticket up dramatically. In New Jersey they have what are called “safe corridor” zones where tickets are doubled in addition to anything over in a 65 zone being doubled. This can raise the price of one speeding ticket in excess of $300.
I’m glad we’re getting at the real crime that plagues our nation. Nevermind this rape, murder, and theft nonsense, let’s see all our available financial resources go to new cruisers, newest VASCAR, helicopters, airplanes, fuel, and overtime pay to stop the dreaded driving safely at comfortable speeds in excess of mandated, randomly set state imposed speed limits.
All people from retirement villages or big govt social engineers that block left lanes at or below the posted speed rejoice!
Certain states in the US have outlawed speed traps. They determine ratios and if the municipality derives its income in excess of a set % they withhold funding and fine the towns. It works.
I read about a small town in Oklahoma with a notorious speed trap. The trap was so intrusive that it affected businesses that relied on truckers. So a local truck stop owner posted billboards on the side of trailers and parked them all along the road warning truckers ENTERING SPEED TRAP.
The state has a no speed trap law but the town continued the speed trap practice. Apparently the billboards worked and the town’s speed trap income plummeted which caused them to cut their poilce force which led to less enforcement of traffic “violations” and more enforcement of crime fighting activities.
ahh the big dig is finished! don’t those troopers come back now??
Welcome to the USSA of 2009
Do not criticize the MAGIC HERO
Do not build a 20 foot snowman in your yard
Do not speed, drink sugary sodas or smoke.
You have the right:
To watch American Idol
To a hot meal at a shelter
To have your Democrat votes counted.
In West Virginia and PA I have noticed cops enforcing construction zone violations (big money) when there are no signs of construction except a few barrels on median. Also I-70 through Western PA starts at 65 and drops to 55 then 45 for no explanable reason. Once you enter WV you jump to 70 again using same road. It’s a total scam and dangerous because most people ignore speed limits and if you obey you will be killed.
I’m often torn between what to do.
Do I believe the signs that say Speed Limit 45 MPH?
Or do I believe the hot heads who feel that anything less than 65 MPH, even in the right lane, is an affront to their personal dignity.
Do I risk getting a ticket from a low-IQ cop?
Or do I have to drive the whole way with an extremely low-IQ moron riding my bumper?
What to do? What to do?
>>Or do I have to drive the whole way with an extremely low-IQ moron riding my bumper?
Don’t match speeds with someone in the adjacent lane, and this shouldn’t be much of a problem.
Yeah, they got me in one of those “construction zones” in Alabama a few years back.
Also, have been seeing County Sheriffs making stops on the interstates in Georgia.
All the bumpkins see are fat wallets driving through their jurisdictions.
“In 2006, Massachusetts began a pilot program that rewarded state troopers for giving out tickets as opposed to warnings.”
They have a monetary incentive for issuing tickets.
Bet that helps the officer’s credibility on the witness stand.
I never match speeds with someone in the adjacent lane. That would be moronic.
But HERE’S the problem.
Some local yocal (who is very familiar with a stretch of road and THINKS that familiarity will shield him from a ticket) is exiting about 10 miles up ahead and wants to STAY IN THE RIGHT LANE at whatever speed HE deems is his GOD GIVEN RIGHT, and the rest of us can all go get f*d.
I’ll tell you, if there was justice in this world, there would be strict enforcement of tail-gating, and less of speeding. I would even go so far as to say that the OBSESSION the law has with DUI (not saying it’s a good thing and I myself don’t even drink at all), blinds them to the fact that there ARE other causes of accidents. I’d rather share the road with a gentleman drunk than with some freaking hot head who has to get to the next red light at 70 mph.
Great News! Hope all moving violations are tripled.
You wanna roll thru a stop sign? Its gonna cost ya a grand.
There are far too many idiots that are holding drivers licenses that have no business behind the wheel of a ton and a half of steel.
Enforcement of the motor vehicle code should be a priority not an afterthought.
I think I know exactly where you are talking about, having been assigned to ROTC duty at Penn State in the early 1990's. Somewhere around Milroy, PA??
No,up in Crawford County.
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