CITY authorities installed speed cameras after a surprising number of people exceeded speeds of 10mph – now they have gone down by 40 per cent.
Instead of 10,000 speeders in two weeks, the city saw only 6,000.
3
3
Morrison, Colorado, installed a speed camera on the east end of downtown after thousands of drivers traveled 10 mph over the 25 mph limit.
Bill Vinelli, the small town’s police chief, said it was a major safety concern and he hoped the camera would help curb speeding.
After two weeks of installation, he got his wish – just 6,000 speeders were quoted, representing a 40% reduction.
“I think the word is getting out,” Vinelli said Colorado Public Radio.
“We are trying to be progressive and proactive to keep all residents safe.”
Vinelli told the outlet that the city pays a salesperson to operate the camera by the hour, and of each $40 ticket, the department receives $28 — the rest goes to the salesperson.
Therefore, the city is not getting rich from ticket revenue.
“We’re not doing this for the revenue,” he said.
“I hope this curbs your behavior.”
Of all 6 thousand fines issued, only 190 paid the fines.
Ironically known as “Speed Trap Town,” Morrison is one of the first cities in the state to install a camera.
Vinelli, upon hearing the city’s nickname, couldn’t help but laugh.
“If it’s a speed trap and you know it, why are you speeding at Morrison?” he said.
“This is incomprehensible to me.”
However, the city’s effort to stop speedsters goes beyond the cameras.
A reconstruction project on the main street, Bear Creek Avenue, is expected soon, with adjusted speed limits.
Speeding was a top safety priority for Carrie McCool, the city planner, after 23 pedestrian accidents occurred between 2019 and 2023.
How to fight a speeding ticket
Driving Tests has a few steps to help combat a speeding ticket. The steps are:
- Stay calm and respectful. Being argumentative or disruptive can hurt your case.
- Sign the printed copy of the ticket. This does not mean you agree with the quote, but it does show compliance.
- Depending on the severity of the citation, some states may allow drivers to attend traffic school in exchange for the fine. If the driving school is substantially less than the fine, this may be a better option.
- Take photos of your surroundings. If there are any signs that are inappropriate or difficult to read, this may help in court.
- Avoid saying things like “it wasn’t me” or “the officer was lying” as this makes it harder for a judge to take you seriously.
- If an officer fails to appear in court, you can usually win due to a lack of evidence against you.
- Avoid saying things like “I didn’t see the stop sign” unless it is obstructed by a tree or building, has holes or is damaged, etc.
- Consult a lawyer. Many lawyers offer free consultations to see if the case can be argued.
- Depending on the cost of the fine, look for sites like Off the record may be a viable option – local lawyers charge a fee to fight the fine for you, and it will be fully refunded if you don’t win.
Source: Driving test, Nolo Law
Speeding, she said, was to blame for all the incidents that hit cyclists and pedestrians.
The redesign has other benefits by slowing down drivers.
“We want people to walk slower so they can park and come eat at our fabulous restaurants,” she said.
The redesign will feature raised crosswalks, which have been proven to drastically slow traffic.
Other features include brighter crosswalk paint, flashing headlights to alert drivers to pedestrians, and other accessibility-friendly additions.
“I think this will definitely calm traffic,” McCool continued.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
