Lead-footed drivers beware.
A recent proposal that would double fines for speeding in residential areas may give drivers an expensive incentive to slow down.
The proposal was introduced last month by state Rep. Jennifer Faunce, R-Warren.
“A lot of constituents expressed concern about people who speed through residential areas, going 50 miles an hour up and down the street,” she said. “With kids and pets in neighborhoods, it’s really dangerous.”
In East Lansing, speeding fines start at $105 and can go up to $175, depending upon how far the speed exceeds the limit.
But this is not a problem that specifically targets students, according to East Lansing police Lt. Juli Liebler said.
“We have residential neighborhoods throughout the city and we have complaints all over the city, so it’s not just students who speed,” Liebler said.
But the question remains whether doubling fines would be effective. No research is available that substantiates the argument.
“There are fines already, and people still speed,” said Andrea Licavoli, an interdisciplinary studies junior. “So even though the fine is doubled, only a few people would feel the effects.”
The complaints mostly come from areas with schools or a high number of children present.
“I don’t think this would cost us any more money in terms of policing,” Liebler said. “We do get a fair amount of complaints.”
Licavoli, a Virginia Avenue resident, lives near three elementary schools, but while she thinks more police cars could scare people into slowing down, the number of patrol cars is already increased while children are going to and from school.
But Faunce remains confident the plan would ease the speeding problem, at least for now.
“Doubling fines will hopefully make people slow down, at least for a little while,” Faunce said. “Maybe if one person gets hit with heavy fines in a particular area, other people will take notice.”
For the increase in fines to work, the change would have to be publicized and reinforced. Even so, some don’t feel it would be a good community solution to speeding in more populated areas.
“I think the purpose is served by having fines in general,” Licavoli said. “Maybe they need to curb speeding, but doubling fines? People speed regardless, so I don’t know that more fines would slow them down.”
