Published on Wednesday, May 2, 2007
in the Jacksonville-WTLV (NBC)

Speeders Beware

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Speeding will now cost you more in part of the First Coast -- even if you're just going a mile over the limit.

A new "enhanced speed zone" started this week along I-95 between Emerson and J. Turner Butler Blvd. We first told you about the campaign in March.

The signs went up in April to warn people of the new zone.

Now, troopers will slap drivers with a $50 fine, even if the driver is caught going one mile over the speed limit.

Officers used to give only a warning for those going 1 to 5 miles per hour over the limit.

Looking for speeders isn't new for Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Donald Currier. But as of today, he knows anyone speeding even one mile over the speed limit in this area can be ticketed.

"You hear a beep and it tells you exactly how fast that car's going," said Currier the laser device in his cruiser.

And it's hard to argue with a laser. Currier says it's precise. But it's not those going one mile over that Currier's interested in.

He pulled one man over.

"It's going to be the red one with the convertible. You were 84 miles an hour. Got you with the laser system. It's 65 through there," said Currier.

With the enhanced speed zone, $50 will be tacked onto this speeders fine, bringing his grand total to $233.50.

"I'm trying to watch traffic, okay, and there's lots of people moving all over the place, and I'm supposed to look for an enhanced speed zone?" said Gary Hauz, who got ticketed for speeding.

Currier says - yeah.

"If we can tack on that $50 to get people to slow down, and be safe out here, I'm all for it," said Currier.

It's all part of a 3 year trial by the state of Florida. State leaders want to see if this kind of enforcement will lower the number of crashes on highways with a lot of traffic like I-95.