Higher fines proposed for speeders on W. Cary and Semmes
It could end up costing you an extra $200 if you’re lead footing down W. Cary or Semmes Avenue.
Semmes and W. Cary are heavily used routes to get into and from downtown. It also is apparent, judging by the speed that workers use on these roads, that workers are always either late for work or in a hurry to get home.
Parker Agelasto, councilman for the the 5th District, has proposed that an additional $200 fine be given out to those caught speeding on W. Cary between Addison and Meadow streets and between Granby and Cherry streets and on Semmes Avenue between 22nd Street and Dundee Avenue. The speed limit is 25 MPH on W. Cary and 35 MPH on Semmes. The reason for the gap in increased fines on W. Cary is the location of a gas station and these increased fines can only take place in residential areas.
Agelasto, 5th District, said residents have been asking for more safety measures, and the fines are intended to make the roads feel more like neighborhood streets rather than speedy “cut-throughs.”
“It is very high up on the list of items that the local civic associations had been requesting for years,” Agelasto said.
Mark Brandon, a businessman who owns several properties on Cary and serves on the board of the Uptown Association, said he welcomed the signs warning of higher fines.
“I’m in favor of something because we need some help on Cary Street,” Brandon said.
To impose the added fines, the city must determine that 85 percent of drivers in both areas travel at least 10 mph above the posted speed limit. The two resolutions say the city has made that determination in both areas.
An editorial note here since I travel on both these streets quite frequently. In over 10 years of living in area I don’t think I’ve ever seen any enforcement of the current speed limit. The higher fine won’t serve as much of a deterrent if they are never given out. Has anyone or do you know anyone that has been given a speeding ticket along either road?
Image: RTD
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Richard Hayes
When Richard isn’t rounding up neighborhood news, he’s likely watching soccer or chasing down the latest and greatest craft beer.
Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
Semmes YES. Cary NOT SO MUCH. Westover Hills Blvd. YES
Will the police actually enforce traffic laws now, or follow the laws themselves?
The police have to enforce the speed limit for this to work. These higher fines are already on Thompson St and Patterson west of Libbie and the speeders are still abundant.
Increasing the fine won’t do much but give more money to the city. Police have to enforce the law. Why are citizens clamoring to increase fines for things? Come on people.
Yeah, the police speed on those roads. Will they get tickets?
I received a speeding ticket on W. Cary, though it was a couple of years ago.
How about increasing fines on Forest Hill Ave. between 48th and Roanoke St.
So many speeders it’s difficult to cross the street when walking.
As someone who travels Semmes every day, I agree that there are a lot of speeders but I have to absolutely call BS on the claim that “at 85 percent of drivers…travel at least 10 mph above the posted speed limit. ” There is no way that this is true.
I’d be willing to stand on Semmes Ave with someone from the city holding a radar gun and wager a weeks paycheck that the “85% of drivers…travel at least 10mph over the posted speed limit” statistic holds no water. .
Instead of simply slapping an added fine to scare motorists, maybe they should look at the street design issues that allow (and practically encourage) speeding on Semmes.
The info provided to the media regarding the “85% of drivers travelling at least 10mph over the posted limit” is inaccurate. The 85th percentile speed is a standard engineering measure of prevailing speed on a roadway and in fact only 15% will be driving above that speed.
So in the case of Semmes, with a posted speed of 35, 15% of drivers are exceeding 45. 85% of drivers are driving below 45. However, when the 85th is well above the posted speed then it means there is a significant percentage exceeding the posted limit. The 85% represents a sharp break in the curve of speeding drivers which is why it is used. But it does not mean 85% are exceeding the speed limit, much less by a large margin.