The state of South Carolina is currently considering a new bill that would aim to give drivers caught speeding a choice when it comes to choosing their punishment for breaking the law, with one choice conveniently helping to boost revenue for the state.
Under the proposed law, according to Fox News, drivers that were caught speeding by fewer than 10 miles per hour over the posted limit would be able to opt for a $150 fine, which is 10 times higher than the current minimum fine, but then the court system would promise not to report the infraction to insurance companies.
This creative option would potentially create a win-win situation for motorists and the state, by allowing drivers who were in dire need the ability to keep points off of their record, while simultaneously providing for a substantial boost to state revenue to help offset the over $800 million budget shortfall.
Is it as simple as it seems?
It depends who you ask, but the short answer is no. According to Representative Todd Rutherford, Democratic and co-sponsor of the bill, claims the bill is aimed at providing additional protections for motorists, not to close the state budget gap. Rutherford added, “My biggest thing is motorists should have an option and law enforcement should have an option.”
But Alicia Jackson, the operations manager for S. C. Insurance News Service, says that, “Driving points do count, but they’re not the immediate rate-raisers that they used to be.” Jackson argued that the points aren’t as valuable as they once were, and motorists may end up spending more money opting for the $150 fine than taking the smaller fine, between $10 and $25, and adding the points to their record.
References
1.’South Carolina considers…’ view
