Published on Monday, April 30, 2007
in the Florida Times-Union

Speeding fine on I-95 stretch about to grow

The warning signs for Interstate 95 speeders have been up for a month.

Starting Tuesday, violations on a 5-mile stretch of I-95 in Jacksonville will hit motorists where it hurts. An extra $50 fine will be tacked onto tickets.

Created by an act of the Legislature, the "Enhanced Penalty Speed Zone" runs from just south of Butler Boulevard to north of Emerson Street. It's one of Northeast Florida's busiest thoroughfares, with an average of 130,500 vehicles driving that part of I-95 each day.

Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Bill Leeper said motorists shouldn't expect to see any more troopers than usual in the zone. He said the whole point is to find out whether warnings about higher speeding tickets will convince drivers to stay within the 65 mph limit.

Leeper said if police patrolled the zone more often, the sight of patrol cars would make a difference. But he said that approach would make it impossible to tell whether posting signs about the higher penalties has reduced speed-related crashes, or if an improvement is just because drivers see patrol cars.

John Holevoet, director of development for the National Motorists Association, said he doubts the zone will improve highway safety. His organization successfully pushed a few years ago for raising the 55 mph speed limit on interstate highways.

"The actual number of accidents caused by speeding is pretty small," he said. "A much larger number of accidents are caused by inattentive driving."

He said the zone seems more geared toward raising money for government services. Money from the extra fine will help Medicaid pay for nursing home care of residents suffering brain and spinal cord injuries, and also support certified trauma centers. The state also authorized the extra fine for 27 miles of I-95 in Brevard County and 6 miles of I-95 in Palm Beach County.

"It might generate some funding for a worthwhile cause, but we can increase fines for everything for a worthwhile cause," Holevoet said.

Depending on the speed, tickets in Duval County range from $83.50 to $208.50. In the zone, the ticket would be $50 higher. Also, Florida law says drivers who are no more than 5 mph over the speed limit will just get a warning, but in the zone there will be no cushion. Troopers can write a ticket with a $50 fine for going 1 to 5 mph over the limit.

Leeper said troopers generally will focus on "the most dangerous drivers" who are traveling at faster speeds. But he said if most highway traffic is moving at 50 mph but a driver is going 66 mph, that could be a scenario where troopers would write a ticket.

Holevoet said the best way to avoid getting a ticket is to go with the flow of traffic and avoid lane changes and passing that would draw a trooper's attention.

His organization advises motorists to use the lanes on the right side of the highway rather than the "fast lane" on the left.