RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — If you get caught speeding on Semmes Avenue, you could be slappedd with a hefty fine $200 fine.
Last year, the city increased the fines for speedsters in an attempt to slow drivers down. 8News recently revealed city leaders are considering increased speeding fines in areas where speeding is a problem.
But 8News wanted to know: Does this really work?
Too many horrific crashes and children crossing the road to get to the Patrick Henry School school was the driving force behind the effort to get traffic to maintain the 35 mile per hour speed limit.
“Officers are out there as often as they can be,” Lt. Faith Flippo says.
Since the increased fines were put in place, Richmond police have stepped up enforcement.
Reviewing citation data for past two years, 8News found tickets to speedsters more than doubled from 83 in 2014 to 236 so far this year.
“I am pleased with the results so far but it is always a work in progress,” Lt. Flippo added.
8News also combed over accident reports for the past four years along Semmes Avenue where the increased fines are in place and found there has been a reduction in collisions.
In 2012, there were 21 accidents. In 2013, 27. But when the increased fines took effect in 2014, accidents dropped to 12 and stand at 15 this year.
Yet if you talk to folks who live and work on the street, they’ll tell you a different story.
“When they see police out there they do slow down for a while,” says Floyd Fields, the owner of Floyd’s Tire and Auto Service on Semmes Avenue. “It’s very, very dangerous. Speeds are very high. The average car is running down here 40 to 50 miles an hour.”
8News decided to run radar on cars traveling on Semmes Avenue. Most slowed down when they saw us, but most were still over the limit; we clocked drivers doing 44 in a 35 mile per hour zone.
The owners of Nest Antique Shop which sits right across the street from the Patrick Henry school worry a child is going to get hit.
“We’ve been almost hit several times trying to cross the street,” say Mark Robertson.
“I think while we are maybe seeing some results from the enhanced fines we are nowhere near where we want to be in terms of speeds,? says Councilman Parker Agelasto.
Agelasto, who pushed for the increased speeding fines, admits more still needs to be done.
Robertson says, “they need enforcement.” But police say they can’t be here all the time.
“A lot of down time is on Semmes Avenue, however we still have to police the rest of the city,” Lt. Flippo explained.
Agelasto says the city will now look at changing the timing of some traffic lights, making crosswalks more visible. He also plans to push for a traffic study along the corridor to see if engineering changes might slow traffic.
Meanwhile, police, city leaders and neighbors stress the need of drivers to do their part and slow down.
