Three city roads—Elliott Avenue, Brandywine Drive and Franklin Street—will soon join the ranks of those with $200 minimum fines for speeding, thanks to a 3-2 vote on June 16.
“I hoped the ordinance would begin to change the culture in the city, and make the city more pedestrian friendly, more bicycle friendly, and wheelchair friendly,” says Councilor Holly Edwards, one of the three to vote in support of the ordinance.
 Old Lynchburg Road will soon get more company in the $200 minimum fine category. |
Last year, City Council instituted $200 minimum fines for Old Lynchburg Road, Avon Street and Altavista Avenue. Though the fines have been in place since September, the data is mixed on their effectiveness. The 85th percentile speed was reduced only 2 miles per hour on those roads. Citations went down on Old Lynchburg by 31 percent, but went up dramatically on Avon Street. For all of the streets, time spent by police on traffic stops went up.
“I’m not totally convinced that a reduction in 2 miles per hour will make that much of a difference,” says Councilor Julian Taliaferro, who, with Satyendra Huja, voted against the fines.
Money collected from the fines goes into the city’s general fund.
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