Police may be giving out more speeding tickets in response to budgetary needs created by the recession.
Many media outlets picked up on the story by Larry Copeland in the USA Today.
Based on input from James Baxter, President of National Motorists Association, the story notes that there is a growing trend toward police issuing tickets for speeds only slightly over the speed limit.
Many drivers felt they had a 5-10 mile per hour "cushion" over the posted speed limit in which they didn't have to keep one eye in the rear view mirror looking for traffic police.
Granted, they could.
According to the article the Governors Highway Safety Association stated police in 42 states regularly cut drivers a break when they were driving over the speed limit.
The article notes that this wouldn't be the first time speeding tickets increased when local and state revenues decreased.
Previous studies have demonstrated that when less revenue is being collected enforcement of speed limits increased.
There have always been a number of reasons to drive at the speed limit (safety, gas conservation, etc.
), but now there is one more reminder to slow down: money! How many people list "speeding tickets" in their household budget? Don't let your haste in getting to your destination end up costing you hundreds of dollars! On a related note one way localities are raising more revenue is raising hotel tax.
The story printed in USA Today suggests that this may be a more politically friendly tax as it hits travelers who are just passing through, not the residents elected officials must answer to.
While this may not affect you at home it may have an impact on your summer time travel budget.
We will keep an eye on this one.
Many media outlets picked up on the story by Larry Copeland in the USA Today.
Based on input from James Baxter, President of National Motorists Association, the story notes that there is a growing trend toward police issuing tickets for speeds only slightly over the speed limit.
Many drivers felt they had a 5-10 mile per hour "cushion" over the posted speed limit in which they didn't have to keep one eye in the rear view mirror looking for traffic police.
Granted, they could.
According to the article the Governors Highway Safety Association stated police in 42 states regularly cut drivers a break when they were driving over the speed limit.
The article notes that this wouldn't be the first time speeding tickets increased when local and state revenues decreased.
Previous studies have demonstrated that when less revenue is being collected enforcement of speed limits increased.
There have always been a number of reasons to drive at the speed limit (safety, gas conservation, etc.
), but now there is one more reminder to slow down: money! How many people list "speeding tickets" in their household budget? Don't let your haste in getting to your destination end up costing you hundreds of dollars! On a related note one way localities are raising more revenue is raising hotel tax.
The story printed in USA Today suggests that this may be a more politically friendly tax as it hits travelers who are just passing through, not the residents elected officials must answer to.
While this may not affect you at home it may have an impact on your summer time travel budget.
We will keep an eye on this one.
Source...