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Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Raise Fines? Sure, But Not For The Revenue

Traffic violation surcharges idea unlikely to go anywhere

January 30, 2011|By Michael Dresser, The Baltimore Sun
Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposal to raise revenue by imposing surcharges on traffic fines is likely to go nowhere — just as it did when former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. floated a similar idea.

As reported in this newspaper by my colleague Annie Linskey, O'Malley's proposal could add $1,500 to the cost of a drunken driving conviction or to other violations that add up to 6 points.

As much as the added penalties would be a plus for highway safety, history shows the idea will run into implacable opposition from the public and the General Assembly. Chances are the plan will be buried as deep as it was when Ehrlich proposed it in 2004 as part of a transportation revenue package.

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