Photo by Chris Rief

After months of study and debate, yesterday the D.C. Council passed a bill dropping the majority of fines doled out by the city’s speed cameras, in one case by a mere $8.

Once the new rates take effect, speeding between 11-15 miles an hour over the limit will land you a $92 ticket, down from $100. (The original fine was $125, but Mayor Vince Gray lowered it in November.) Between 16-20 mph over would be $100 (down from $150), while 21-25 over would be $150 (down from $200). The fine for speeding 25 mph over would remain at $250. A new portion of the bill would also drop the fine for turning right on red from $100 to $50. (Fines for running red lights will remain the same.)

So why only $8? While the original version of the bill called for $50 decreases across the board, such a change would have seen D.C. take in $95 million less revenue than expected from the cameras over four years. To avoid passing a bill subject to future appropriations, Council Chair Phil Mendelson made a last-minute change on the fine for speeding between 11-15 miles an hour over, which accounts for the majority of speeding camera tickets: instead of $75 as originally envisioned, the fine would stand at $92.

The bill also calls on the D.C. Department of Transportation to assess speed limits on D.C. roadways, with an eye towards raising some where appropriate. (Gray has already done so on six roads.) Additionally, more signs will appear around the city warning that D.C. is a strict enforcement zone.

So what’s with all the posturing over speed camera fines? Councilmember Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) and Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) convened a task force in August to look into the city’s existing fine structure, saying that high fines on a limited number of cameras were less effective in promoting safety than lower fines on more cameras. They also said they sought to bring more parity in fines across jurisdictions; Montgomery County, for one, only charges $40 for speed camera violations.

Before they could vote on their eventual bill, though, Gray stole the limelight by unilaterally lowering a small number of fines and setting aside some of the remaining revenue for the hiring of 100 new police officers. Despite Gray’s move, the council went ahead with its bill, and in the process scrapped the money for the police officers.

“Apparently, the council doesn’t believe the District needs more police officers. I think most District residents would disagree, especially those who live in the neighborhoods highlighted by Chief Lanier in her letter,” said mayoral spokesman Pedro Ribeiro, citing a letter sent this week by Lanier to Mendelson pushing for more officers. (In related news, the council voted down a request for money to hire 48 more officers, reports the Post.)

The new fines will likely take effect next spring.