Speeders face fuel surcharge...

[Bren]

In the news today....If it is happening over in the US how long will it be until NZ adopts it...just another way of adding to the coffers...

Speeders to pay extra for police fuel
In an Atlanta suburb, offenders will face $12 'surcharge' on top of ticket
By Larry Copeland
USA TODAY
HOLLY SPRINGS, Ga. — The surging price of gasoline has come to this: a "fuel surcharge" on your next speeding ticket.
Drivers caught speeding in this north Atlanta suburb soon will have to pay an extra $12 — to cover $4-a-gallon gas costs for the police officers who stop them.
The City Council passed the fee hike, effective July 1, to offset fuel prices that have eaten up nearly 60% of the police department's 2008 fuel budget, Police Chief Ken Ball says.
He expects the fee increase, which applies to all moving violations and can be rescinded if gas prices fall below $3 a gallon, to generate $19,500 to $26,000 a year for the town of 7,700.
Ball says he was seeking ways to maintain patrols despite record high gas prices. "I was hearing that Delta (Air Lines), pizza deliverers, florists were adding fuel charges to their services, and I thought, why not police departments?" he says.

Full story here.

[sunhuntin]

i dont see anything wrong with that. a good idea, actually.

[firefighter]

good idea, but they waste so much gas it's not going to help anything, green light, foot to floor......slam on brakes at last minute at next set of lights 30m away.....they really drive like that, no such thing as saving gas over there, they waste the shit out of it then whine at $4 a gallon.It would be good if the surcharge went towards fuel costs but you know it'll go straight into the next politician payrise.

[scumdog]

good idea, but they waste so much gas it's not going to help anything, green light, foot to floor......slam on brakes at last minute at next set of lights 30m away.....they really drive like that,

Sounds just like NZ - and don't forget those who are at a standstill in a bumper to bumper but leave their engines running for 15 minutes without the car moving.. - the advantages of the Auckland motorway sytem have escaped me.

[firefighter]

Sounds just like NZ - and don't forget those who are at a standstill in a bumper to bumper but leave their egines running for 15 minutes without the car moving..

mmmmm, nah i'm yet to see traffic screaming along like it does over there, I was in absolute awe as to how much they thrashed a vehicle (the size of a tank) to travel to the next red, it actually scared me at times.(felt like a demolition durby )