Published on Friday, June 9, 2006
in the WTLV News

New, Higher Fines For Speeding On The Way For Certain First Coast Roads

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- After several deadly crashes on the First Coast, state troopers are cracking down on speeders. For you, that will soon mean higher fines, and not getting away with only going three or four miles over the speed limit.

State troopers and lawmakers say the goal is safer and slower traffic. And they'll get to that goal by way of your wallet.

A new law, just passed in Tallahassee, will bump up speeding fines, and throw out some of the traffic laws you may be used to on certain dangerous First Coast roads.

Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Bill Godfrey will never forget the worst crash he's seen at the Interstate-10 and Interstate-95 Merge.

"Right over there, on the other side of the iron bridge, I had a car that that hit one side of the wall, bounced off, overturned and flipped, and blocked all lanes of traffic," Godfrey said, pointing across the swirl of overpasses and speeding cars at the I-10, I-95 Merge.

From those memories come his motivation. And he's excited about a new law that'll let him throw the book at speeders on the most dangerous stretches of Jacksonville roads.

Science and statistics will point out the places where speed causes the most crashes.

Those spots haven't been picked yet, but when they are, signs will go up -- and that stretch of highway will be an "enhanced penalty zone."

"As the law stands now, if you go one to five over the speed limit, you can only be warned for that. But if it's a designated penalty zone, then you can be fined for going one to five over the limit -- which is a good benefit," explained FHP Lt. Bill Leeper.

No more warnings for speeders who stay within five miles an hour over the limit -- it'll be a $50 fine. On top of that, other fines will go up by 50 bucks, too.

"More money out of your pocket, definitely speaks loud," Godfrey said.

It's a pilot program that hopes to cut the pain speeding and crashes can cause.

"I'm in a hurry," Godfrey said, speaking of the drivers he sees, "I have to get to work, or do whatever I need to do. And you forget about that your speed increases the danger, and not only the danger, but the devastation of a crash that could be involved."

The extra money that comes from the higher fines in those zones will be split. Half will go to care for people with spinal cord and brain injuries. The other half will go to First Coast trauma centers.

Expect to see the first zones by the middle of next year.