REGIONAL NEWS | By Brian Justice | Contributor

WINCHESTER, Tenn. — Citing increased costs being passed down from the state level, the Winchester City Council has approved an increase in speeding-ticket fines.

The City Council discussed the issue in a Nov. 4 work session with City Administrator Beth Rhoton recommending the cost should be increased from $120 to $125 for speeding violations to cover the state-level increase.

However, the council approved at its Dec. 9 meeting to set the fines at $150, which is more than initially discussed but less than what other surround communities charge. Police Chief Ritchie Lewis said that Winchester, even with the increase, has fines that are lower than in surrounding communities.

“There’s no reason not to go up,” he said recently, then referring to Cowan, which assesses a $158.75 fine for going 15 mph over the posted speed limit.

The council members reviewed comparisons to other communities, including Tullahoma, which assesses a $180.75 fine for the same infraction, with Estill Springs charging $184.50 and Decherd charging $177.50.

Rhoton said the increase is in no way intended as a revenue enhancer for the city. She added that the city receives only between $6,000 and $10,000 annually from speeding-ticket proceeds.

Lewis also said officers tend to give motorists a break with issuing citations, usually allowing up to 10 mph over the speed limit before taking action. However, Rhoton said the speeding laws need to be enforced within reason to ensure safety.

“If somebody does something wrong, we want that taken care of,” she said. “But we don’t want a speed trap.”

{Editor’s Note: This article is brought to thanks to an editorial partnership between The Lynchburg Times and The Herald Chronicle. Together we’ve got Moore County covered like the dew.}