D.C. task force considers slashing speed camera fines  By |
Local,DC,Liz Farmer  A D.C. task force appears poised to
recommend lowering speed camera fines issued in the District,
however red-light camera violations will likely be unchanged.
At a meeting Wednesday, the group, which was assembled by Ward 6
D.C. Councilman Tommy Wells and co-chaired by Ward 3
Councilwoman Mary Cheh, discussed lowering speeding violations
caught on camera in D.C. from an average of $150 to $40.  "I'm
convinced that the fines ... have to come down," Wells said
during the meeting. "I'm getting so much feedback from the
community and a lot of anger about the tickets they're getting
now."  The panel first convened this summer after complaints
from residents that city officials are using the program as a
revenue generator to fill budget gaps. Automated traffic
enforcement fines have increased by as much as 500 percent over
the past four years in D.C. and reach as high as $250 for
speeding offenses, although the most commonly issued t