D.C. On Pace To Issue 700,000 Speed Cameras Tickets In 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The District of Columbia is on pace to issue more than 700,000 speed camera tickets this year, matching the record set in 2012.
WTOP Radio reports the district's 2012 speed camera tickets netted $78.8 million. AAA spokesman John Townsend said that with automated red-light camera, D.C. tickets will generate $120 million this year.
"These numbers are simply astonishing," he said. "We see the double of speed camera tickets in the district from FY 2011 to FY 2012 and now that trend seems to be holding for FY 2013."
Since Oct. 1 when the 2013 fiscal year began, the district has issued nearly 335,000 speed camera tickets. That's nearly the same as all of 2011. This year's tickets have already generated nearly $45 million.
Police spokeswoman Gwendolyn Crump says the automated tickets have always been about saving lives by reducing dangerous driving and to change people's speeding habits.
Overall revenue may decline this year because ticket fines have been lowered. On April 1, speed fines were reduced from $100 to $92 for driving 11 to 15 mph over the speed limit. The fine for driving 16 to 20 mph over the limit was reduced by $50. But Townsend says he expects to see another record number of tickets issued.
Fewer tickets were issued by speed cameras in the Maryland suburbs. In the 2012 fiscal year, Prince George's County issued about 439,335 speed camera tickets, and Montgomery County issued about 350,000 tickets.
Virginia does not allow speed cameras.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
