You'll pay for the cops extra gas to chase and issue a speeding ticket.

[Rusty Heap]

holy friggin sheet. !!!!

The cops chase you down to issue a speeding ticket, and now you'll have to pay for their gas to do so? This is just wrong on soooooo many levels.

Speeders to pay extra for police fuel

In an Atlanta suburb, offenders will face $12 'surcharge' on top of ticket
By Larry Copeland
USA TODAY

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He expects the fee increase, which applies to all moving violations and can be rescinded if gas prices fall below $3 a gallon, to generate $19,500 to $26,000 a year for the town of 7,700.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."

[The Gaijin]

They need a Ford Escort with cameras front back and side...

Going +10 over the speed limit in the middle lane should give plenty of opportunity to catch all kinds of cell phone texters, make-up appliers, tail-gaters and other assorted aggressive drivers.

The revenues would be so high - they could leave the Porsches in the left lane alone...

[Aerkuld]

You're not going to like this, but the answer's simple. Stick to the speed limit and you won't be paying for the poilce department's fuel. In fact you will even save some money on your own fuel too. It's a win win situation!

[The Gaijin]

With the right conditions +10 or +20 is not necessarily unsafe. And that is all that matters.

85 MPH on an open interstate on a sunny day are the speeds they were designed for 50 years ago.

But this is a topic for another thread..

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by aerkuld

you're Not Going To Like This, But The Answer's Simple. Stick To The Speed Limit And You Won't Be Paying For The Poilce Department's Fuel. In Fact You Will Even Save Some Money On Your Own Fuel Too. It's A Win Win Situation!

IOW: SUBMIT To The Will Of The State!!!

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by Aerkuld

You're not going to like this, but the answer's simple. Stick to the speed limit and you won't be paying for the poilce department's fuel. In fact you will even save some money on your own fuel too. It's a win win situation!

If the cops were focusing their efforts where they should be in the first place going after real criminals instead of doing ticky-tack traffic detail there would be no need for the surcharge either.

Or if they used Segways instead of cruisers. Or mountain bikes. Or whatever.

Revenue. It's all about revenue. Always has been, always will be. This is just one more way to do it.

[Aerkuld]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

IOW: SUBMIT To The Will Of The State!!!

You know, I agree with others that the safety aspect of the speed limit is bollocks and that the real purpose of speeding tickets is to generate revenue. However, I have been pretty mellow recently and have come to the conclusion that the extra 10 or 20 mph over the limit on my way in to work achieves nothing for me personally and uses more gas. I have found that I am quite happy sticking to the speed limit and it really doesn't take me any longer to get to work. In addition I have improved my fuel economy enought to get me an extra days travel out of a tank full of gas.
I honestly don't see what the problem is.

[Noah930]

What if I pull over before the cop even has a chance to give chase? Would I be able to avoid that $12 surcharge?

I'm all for the "just don't speed and you don't have to worry about tickets" perspective. But the justification they use for this fuel surcharge is ridiculous. I don't see nearly as much abuse of power here in California, but when I lived in Massachusetts, I would regularly (daily) get passed by Troopers doing 90. That was their average. Not necessarily responding to any call. Just their cruising speed. I would think that that type of habitual behavior would waste far more gas than the occasional 100 mph burst of speed to catch speeders.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Is it the same $12 regardless of speed/length of chase?

If so, I say drop the hammer and go on a 120+ mph high-speed chase for a few miles to get your money's worth.

[m21sniper]

S U B M I T jeff!

[Gogar]

Fixed it for ya!

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

holy friggin sheet. !!!!

The cops chase you down to issue a speeding ticket, and now you'll have to pay for their gas to do so? This is just wrong on soooooo many levels.

Speeders to pay extra for police pensions

In an Atlanta suburb, offenders will face $12 'surcharge' on top of ticket
By Larry Copeland
USA TODAY

[Aerkuld]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Is it the same $12 regardless of speed/length of chase?

If so, I say drop the hammer and go on a 120+ mph high-speed chase for a few miles to get your money's worth.

I was wondering about that. If I do decide to speed I think I'd make a really good job of it to get my moneys worth.

[Rusty Heap]

Driving 55 mph in 5th gear is damn near lugging the motor........

I
Can't
Drive
55!

- sammy hagar.

[Rusty Heap]

Driving 55 mph in 5th gear is damn near lugging the motor........

I
Can't
Drive
55!

- sammy hagar.

[m21sniper]

My 928S will do 55 in 1st gear. :-/

[Danny_Ocean]

Wouldn't this be considered double-taxation? Didn't our city/state taxes already go to the police dept. to fund their budget (which includes fuel)? Someone get me a lawyer...

[Rick V]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Is it the same $12 regardless of speed/length of chase?

If so, I say drop the hammer and go on a 120+ mph high-speed chase for a few miles to get your money's worth.

Thanks, I really needed that laugh.

[island911]

They're doing this all for our safety!

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by island911

They're doing this all for our safety!

Thanks, I really needed THAT laugh!

[DavidI]

This idea is ridiculous...............

David