Kokomo Tribune; Kokomo, Indiana

Local News

November 13, 2009

City may collect traffic fines

Tickets would become a civil matter

Pleading “not guilty” to a speeding ticket could become a thing of the past in Kokomo, if city council passes an administration-backed motor vehicle ordinance.

Monday, the proposed new law cleared its first hurdle, passing council on first reading.

Council members, however, said they’ll need more time to digest the sweeping changes in the package before the second and possibly third readings.

Probably the biggest change being proposed is changing so-called “moving violations” from infractions — which are addressed by the Indiana Code — to city ordinance violations.

For the city of Kokomo, the change could mean additional revenue from violators.

Under the current system, a speeding ticket may either be paid (constituting an automatic “guilty” plea), or the motorist can plead “not guilty” and have a day in court.

Any fines collected under the current system are largely split between the state courts and the state of Indiana.

The city of Kokomo, according to city attorney Derek Sublette, receives about $3 from each ticket.

Monday, Sublette described a new system, whereby speeders would be ticketed for violating a city ordinance, similar to locals who are ticketed for noise and litter violations.

The majority of the fine would go directly to the city. The ordinance calls for $75 fines for speeding (up to 10 mph over the limit), and $150 fines for exceeding speeding limits by more than 10 mph. Violations like running stop signs and failure to yield will also draw a $75 fine.

Under the new system, motorists who disagree with the ticketing officer would simply decline to pay the ticket. It would then be the city’s responsibility to seek a civil judgment on the motorist through small claims court, Sublette explained.

Kokomo Police Chief Rob Baker told council members Monday he favors the ordinance.

“The guys would be more apt to go out and write tickets if that money came back to them,” Baker said.

“Not that we’re in the business of running speed traps,” he added. “We want to help protect the citizens of Kokomo.”

Baker’s comments were preceded by a general council discussion of how best to spend the potential future revenue.

Several council members spoke in favor of using the money exclusively to fund new police equipment.

“Why wouldn’t we put some of these funds into the police department, for training and such?” Councilman Bob Cameron, D-2nd asked.

Councilwoman Cindy Sanders, D-5th, countered by asking why the council wouldn’t decide how to spend the money.

“Why not put it into the general fund, and then we can budget it? To lock ourselves in ... I just don’t know,” Sanders said.

How much money the new system might raise, as well as questions on how the system would be administered, have yet to be answered.

Council members asked both Sublette and Baker how many tickets the city writes each year.

Both city officials said they couldn’t come up with an accurate count, saying some tickets are written on state roads, such as Washington Street, Markland Avenue and U.S. 31. Any tickets written on state roads would have to be written as state code violations, they said.

Sublette and Baker also held up Indianapolis and Noblesville as locales where tickets are written as local ordinance violations.

But Noblesville has a special court set up to handle individuals fighting their tickets, and Marion County uses the state courts to prosecute individuals who want to fight. Unlike the Kokomo proposal, both cities give ticketed individuals the option of pleading “not guilty” and obtaining a court date.

Sublette said he’s still working out the specifics of what the city will do to administer the new system, “but we want to make it so if they do contest the ticket, they’ll have to pay an increased fine.”

He said the city is considering the proposal to raise revenue in the midst of the economic downturn.

“It’s just to offset some of our recent losses,” he said.

• Scott Smith is a Kokomo Tribune staff writer. He may be reached at 765-454-8569 or via e-mail at scott.smith@kokomotribune.com

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News
  • us 31 Entire U.S. 31 corridor now under contract

    Every segment of the 13.1-mile, U.S. 31 Kokomo Corridor is now officially under construction.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • Northwestern to graduate 130 seniors

    Peyton Hite ended her last day in high school by going home and washing sheep.

    “It’s part of living on a farm,” she said, with a laugh.

    May 25, 2012

  • drugs, arrests Drugs, cash seized, four arrested

    Police from four agencies seized heroin, pills, syringes and cash, and arrested four people this week after a raid on a house on East Street, according to police reports.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • Lafayette job fair expects Kokomo hopefuls

    Organizers of a Lafayette job fair next week are reaching out to Kokomo residents looking for work.

    May 25, 2012

  • Deputy prosecutor facing two charges

    A Howard County deputy prosecutor will face two drunken-driving charges in connection with a traffic stop in Cicero.

    May 25, 2012

  • Governor Award 01 Governor honors student

    A Northwestern High School senior achieved a milestone Thursday when he became the first Indiana student ever to win both of the state’s top science awards.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • Taylor considering staff reductions

    A decline in enrollment has forced Taylor School Corp. to consider staff reductions, but the board won’t vote on the issue until next week, officials said Thursday.

    May 25, 2012

  • Schools among top 20 in Indiana

    Three area schools were ranked among the top 20 in Indiana this year by U.S. News and World Report.

    Tri-Central Middle/High School, Eastern Junior-Senior High School and Tipton High School all made the list, which was an evaluation of 379 high schools across the state.

    May 25, 2012

  • iPad at Library 01 Library starts iPad rental program

    Apple can’t make enough iPads to satisfy demand, but the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library now owns 15 iPad2 units.

    Thursday, social media-conscious library patrons scrambled to borrow the tablet computers, on the first official day of the library’s iPad lending program.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • Gov. names NW student 'Mr. Science' for 2012

    Tyler Barnes becomes first Indiana student to be named Indiana's Top Young Scientist and Mr. Science.

    May 24, 2012

eEdition
ktbizlinc.kokomotribune.com
Featured Ads
More kokomotribune.com
KT Twitter Updates
Follow me on Twitter

Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
AP Video
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium 50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Echoes from the Titanic