TJ Phaserman 2 Posted June 21, 2008 HOLLY SPRINGS, Ga. — The surging price of gasoline has come to this: a "fuel surcharge" on your next speeding ticket. Drivers caught speeding in this north Atlanta suburb soon will have to pay an extra $12 — to cover $4-a-gallon gas costs for the police officers who stop them. The City Council passed the fee hike, effective July 1, to offset fuel prices that have eaten up nearly 60% of the police department's 2008 fuel budget, Police Chief Ken Ball says. He expects the fee increase, which applies to all moving violations and can be rescinded if gas prices fall below $3 a gallon, to generate $19,500 to $26,000 a year for the town of 7,700. Ball says he was seeking ways to maintain patrols despite record high gas prices. "I was hearing that Delta (Air Lines), pizza deliverers, florists were adding fuel charges to their services, and I thought, why not police departments?" he says. Atlanta might be next. Monday, the City Council approved by a 13-0 vote Councilman C.T. Martin's proposal to add a $10-$15 surcharge for motorists convicted of speeding and other moving violations, Martin says. "I want to recover the cost of the extra gas … without raising property taxes," he says. The legislation awaits Mayor Shirley Franklin's approval. Other cities could follow. Ball says he's being "inundated" by calls from police chiefs and city managers. "I've heard from at least a dozen police chiefs and half a dozen city managers," he says of the measure passed Monday night. "They want to know how we did it, and could we send them a copy of the ordinance." Wendy Balazik, spokeswoman for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, says she's not aware of any other cities adding such a surcharge. "But it makes sense," she says. "Law enforcement agencies are already facing a number of financial pressures, and rising fuel costs can't help the situation at all." The National League of Cities says it is unaware of other cities adding such fees. The national average cost for a gallon of regular gas was $4.078 Tuesday, according to auto club AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. Katie Harris, 20, a babysitter and student at Georgia Perimeter College, doesn't like the new fines. "It always seems like government officials are trying to take money from citizens' pockets," she says. Holly Springs Mayor Tim Downing says: "This is a self-taxing system. If you don't break the law, you don't pay the tax." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rob39874 0 Posted June 21, 2008 This will lead to more high speed chases and accidents due to people not wanting to pay the charge Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wishfire 2 Posted June 21, 2008 What an excellent idea. They should do it here in California. Imagine how much extra funds it would generate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kor37 9 Posted June 21, 2008 Its total BS. The police don't waste gas giving you a ticket. Most people pull over when ordered to. They would only waste gas chasing someone trying to run from them and those people would get arrested rather than ticketed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theunicornhunter 2 Posted June 21, 2008 I suspect most speeding tickets are issued when people cruise into a speed trap - ie the officers are just sitting by the side of the road waiting for you - sort of like spiders waiting for flies. So increased cost of chasing someone is a smoke screen or cover story. They've really just found a new way to tax people. And when you consider the article says it applies to all moving violations it is obvious it really has nothing to do with wasting gas. That said, people who speed are wasting gas - I thought that was what they were getting ticketed for. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
He Who Shall Not Be Named 2 Posted June 21, 2008 Speed limits are advisory in my part of the state - you aren't going to go anywhere near that fast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KIMIMELA 1 Posted June 21, 2008 :o Passing gas? Ewwwwwwwww! It's Petrol or Diesel Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
He Who Shall Not Be Named 2 Posted June 21, 2008 :o Passing gas? Ewwwwwwwww! You never did tell us if you still had those fart bubbles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KIMIMELA 1 Posted June 21, 2008 :o Passing gas? Ewwwwwwwww! You never did tell us if you still had those fart bubbles. WHAT?! IVE GOT DRINK BUBBLES in my 7th glass of Barcadi and Cola I'm trying to sober myself up but this Vodka isnt working :P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
He Who Shall Not Be Named 2 Posted June 21, 2008 You Go Girl!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KIMIMELA 1 Posted June 21, 2008 You Go Girl!!! You're making me sound like a cowgirl or someone in a trailer park or tramp on a parking lot lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
