MERRIAM, Kan. – There’s a push underway in Kansas to increase the fines for anyone caught speeding.
The Kansas Highway Patrol said it has noticed a huge increase in the number of speeding tickets soldiers are writing in recent years.
Of the tickets soldiers wrote in 2022, more than 3,000 were speeding tickets for drivers traveling at least 100 mph, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.
The Highway Patrol says it hopes higher speeding tickets will encourage people to slow down on highways.
Car crash fatalities in the state of Kansas increased 5 percent last year, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. Soldiers say the number one cause in those fatal crashes is speed.
In 2021, soldiers issued more than double the number of speeding tickets compared to 2019.
Wichita police caught a driver traveling 136 mph on a highway.
Law enforcement agencies have petitioned Kansas lawmakers to increase the fines.
The penalties are currently:
- 1-10 mph beyond
- 11-20 mph beyond
- $45 + $6 for each additional mile over the speed limit
- 21-30 mph over
- $105 + $9 for each additional mile over the speed limit
- 31 km/h +
- $195 to $500 + $15 to $20 for each additional mile over the speed limit
Lawmakers are considering increasing the fine to $500, plus $20 for each additional mile over that speed.
The speeders would also pay court costs of around $100.
Lawmakers who serve on a House committee are recommending passage of this one
