A Gorham town councilor is working with a state senator to increase traffic fines as a way to reimburse communities that are enforcing the laws with local police departments.
Sen. Phil Bartlett, D-Cumberland County, has submitted a bill on behalf of Councilor Shonn Moulton that would raise fines for traffic violations and divert the money to local government, which now cover the cost of enforcing the laws through local police departments.
Bartlett, the Senate majority leader, said the bill is still in the concept stage and does not have specific language yet. However, he said he believes it has merit and a good chance of passing in the Legislature.
Bartlett said many legislators are concerned about state budget cuts and impacts on the local level. “Property taxes are already overburdened,” he said.
Moulton has proposed the state add $30 across the board to fines for existing traffic violations as a user fee to help municipalities recover costs. Under Moulton’s proposal, a $30 increase for a $119 speeding fine would calculate to a 25.2 percent hike.
Fines for traffic violations vary widely depending on the offense. A speeding ticket for up to 9 mph over the limit, for example, costs $119. Seat-belt violations start at $70 for a first offense, and running a red light will set a violator back $131.
The state received approximately $19.7 million in traffic fines and fees last year, according to Ellen Hjelm, finance officer for the state court system.
“On a traffic violation, the state gets 100 percent,” said Moulton.
Citing another example of how local taxpayers are subsidizing the state, Moulton said municipalities provide police officers to fight contested traffic summonses in court. But, Moulton said it is costing Gorham and other municipalities money.
Gorham Police Chief Ron Shepard said this week that according to the union contract the town has to pay its officers, who go to court, four hours of overtime pay. Shepard said the average cost to the Gorham Police Department is $36.84 cents for each of the four hours, adding up to $147.36.
Shepard said the state reimburses the town only $50.
So, the Gorham taxpayers are paying an average of $97.36 for each occasion a Gorham officer appears in court.
“The town loses quite a bit of money,” Shepard said.
Moulton doesn’t want Gorham’s taxpayers saddled with picking up a tab associated with making traffic tickets stick. Moulton said sending police officers to court has cost Gorham in recent years an average of more than $30,000.
“I’ll guarantee we’re not getting $30,000 back from the state,” Moulton said.
Bartlett, who hoped to see wording of the bill in the next two or three weeks, said it would probably go to Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.
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