WASHINGTON -
The D.C. Council is about to consider lowering the fines issued to drivers caught by the growing number of speed cameras in the city.
Complaints about the steep fines led two D.C. council members to create a task force to look into the matter.
"The automated enforcement is ultimately and uniformly about safety," says Ward 3 Democrat Mary Cheh. "And protecting the public. But because of the amount of the fines, we have been worried that people are thinking that it's just a money grab."
"These things are like everywhere," said one District resident about a speed camera on 19th Street, SE near RFK Stadium. "They're a nuisance."
The biggest beef is about the amount of some of the fines.
"I got one for $125 a couple of months ago," says D.C. resident Rob Carroll. "I'm OK with it. It's for the safety of everyone, but I think $125 is a little steep."
The plan offered by Councilmembers Cheh and Tommy Wells would lower fines to $50 for violations up to 20 miles per hour over the posted limit. That would be more in line with maximum fines of $40 in Maryland. There are no speed cameras in Virginia.
And despite the fact D.C. traffic fatality rates have dropped about 75 percent during the past 11 years of automated speed enforcement, Wells says complaints have also been about the bigger picture.
"I hear about it from all over the city that it really undermines the kind of relationship between the governed and the government," Wells tells FOX 5 News. "And we really need to restore that and really be responsible about it."
But Cheh says the changes may be just temporary.
"Because believe me, if we find out that by lowering the fines we get less compliance, we're going to revisit this," says Cheh.
She also says those $150 fines issued when drivers get caught by red light cameras in the city will not be changing.
