City should rethink increase in 'technology surcharge'

City should rethink increase in 'technology surcharge'

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Wednesday, April 22. 2009

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Effective May 1, motorists in Commerce will pay an additional $8 on top of any traffic (or other) citation issued by the city police. Proceeds will be used to upgrade computers at the police department.

Given the current recession, this does not seem like an appropriate time to add yet another surcharge to the cost of traffic (or other) citations. The city should rescind this action.

First, the city already takes in more than $30,000 a year on the current $12 technology surcharge. That revenue should be sufficient to finance new computers. Second, the city has almost $260,000 in confiscated drug money available, which could also be used to fund all or part of the technology upgrade.

Traffic citations are already incredibly burdensome. The fines issued by the city are steep enough, but all of the surcharges required by the state nearly double the cost of any fine. It’s just a little too easy for the state — and Commerce — to slap an extra fee on those who violate the law. After all, one can avoid the charge if one obeys all traffic and other laws, the justification goes.

It should be noted that Commerce’s only add-on is the technology surcharge. Georgia’s lawmakers have a long history of exploiting those who break the law to finance real or perceived needs, and Commerce’s extra $8 will be just a small part of every traffic fine. Still, it is onerous.

Traffic laws exist to enhance public safety, and it can be argued that the higher the fines are, the more people will be encouraged to drive more safely. But the Commerce technology surcharge, like those other surcharges initiated by the state, is not about public safety. It’s a revenue project forced onto police officers whose mission is to protect and to serve, not to raise money.

According to the city’s clerk of court, the surcharges alone on a ticket for running a stoplight — something that can happen to any motorist — will amount to more than $100 (with the $20 technology fee). A $143 ticket is high enough, but $248 after add-ons is excessive to the point that anyone ticketed for a routine traffic offense comes away feeling exploited.

The midst of a recession is a poor time to increase the cost of every minor traffic violation, and it demonstrates insensitivity to the financial difficulties many Commerce residents already face. Instead of taking another $8 from everyone unfortunate enough to be caught for a traffic violation, use the assets already available to buy police technology and have a little mercy on the driving public. Enough is enough.

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#1 Eagle 1 on 04/23/09 at 02:11 AM [Reply]

I do agree with you. The police department should NOT be a revenue generating agency, but it seems CPD is. Police departments are suppose to protect and serve and when at times enforce state and local violations, but not to go to such an "extreme". What happened to all the confiscated drug money? It was a lot higher than $260,000. FYI...It would make a great story topic! Why is the city only buying one patrol car for the police department this facial year? To answer one of my questions, all vehicles purchased last year for the department, was seized drug money. Remember it can only be used for "equipment and training". Why is it that the police department has went two years and only had the city buy one patrol unit? I feel that the police department is a revenue generating department, because City Hall has made it this way and that all values have been lost over time for the Commerce Police Department. Maybe some "concerned citizens or tax payers" should ask their city councilman,why the CPD is only getting one car this year. I think...not to certain, but think the only 24/7 department in the city is the police department (besides CFD being on call) isn't it? Do we need to change police chief's and recruit one with a backbone to stand up at city hall and to his officers? This city once was high on values, ethics and pride. Where has all that went over time? Thank you Mr.Beardsley. Great article!

#2 draggindriver on 04/23/09 at 05:09 AM [Reply]

This is a rare and reasonable position. Lawmakers view "lawbreakers" as pots of gold, not as fellow citizens who make mistakes, and certainly not as customers. Raising the fee may drive away business.
Commerce is a city which strives to attract customers to downtown businesses, but when I have been exploited by ticket(s) issued by "public safety" officials, I avoid the area. Anything sold in Commerce is sold somewhere else, and the city council surely knows this.

#3 Anonymous on 04/23/09 at 05:24 PM [Reply]

You don't "stand up" to the people who sign your checks no matter how good you are. Be fair, the Commerce Police has seen vast improvements since the time of George Grimes and his involvement with the current city clerk and the council. We now have professional officers and very well respected chief.

Commerce PD is not at fault for the increase, it is greedy leaders. Look back at the utility increase. Charge more when people use less. They should cut back instead. Think about that when there is a water leak and 5 guys stand around one in the hole working.

#4 a inside voice on 04/23/09 at 06:53 PM [Reply]

Why is everything always blamed on the police? The police have no control over the fine amounts or add on fees. These are set by the state and city officials. People need to learn how to put the blame where it belongs instead of the police officers. However, the city officials do not want a police chief that is willing to stand up to them. They prefer to have a politician type who scratches their back for personal satisfaction and potentially futer political use.

#5 Not Given on 04/24/09 at 09:04 AM [Reply]

It's all about the money. This started with the abusive patroling of I-85 for cash. Then the City Manager proposed stopping 18 wheelers in downtown Commerce as he felt strongly that officers could find something to write a ticket for on almost every truck stopped. This statement was made! Now he is proposing an additional surcharge on top of a surcharge. This makes about much sense as raising utility rates at a time when we have one of the worst economic situations in history and unprecented unemployment in our city and throughout the county. Mr. Bryant, residents of Commerce are being laid off daily. If they are like me, and I have a job, they are struggling to pay their "high" utility bills and struggling to buy gasoline and to feed their families. This $8.00 surcharge idea must be shot down by the council. I have an idea to get more cash for the city, place city police patrol units on I-85 and have them stop and search vehicles traveling on I-85 as part of the Interstate Criminal Enforcement(ICE) program. They can keep all unaccounted for cash. We can harass motorist who are attempting to by-pass Commerce by taking cash from them. My bad, I forgot the city of Commerce is already doing this. Mark noted that traffic laws exist to enhance the public safety, I am still waiting to be told how placing city police officers out on I-85 enhance the public safety of the City of Commerce. It certainly does not enhance the image of the city. When police departments are used as revenue generators, abuses will occur. There is a sign out of the by-pass asking if you have visited downtown Commerce lately, police actions like this one being proposed will only discourage people from visiting downtown Commerce. Being pulled over by local police officers on an interstate highway would leave a bad taste in my mouth and I certainly would not spend any money in a town that would employ these tactics on an interstate highway. There are plenty of violations taking place in Commerce proper that, if addressed by our police department, would enhance the public safety within the City of Commerce.

#5.1 Anonymous on 04/24/09 at 11:47 AM [Reply]

I think they(the CPD) need to learn how to runa computer. I alsoo think that the Bypass and I 85 should be patroled by the GSP or the County police. Not the city.

#5.1.1 GSP123 on 04/29/09 at 09:07 AM [Reply]

I think YOU, need to learn how to spell. Maybe you should take some computer classes. There is a little thing called "spell check", it works wonders for people of your caliber. I also feel you should spend more time doing your research, before making a idiotic post. There is no "county police" in Jackson County. There is though, a Jackson County Sheriff's Office. Hope this helps your confusion ;)

#5.1.1.1 Anonymous on 04/29/09 at 08:50 PM [Reply]

Did you really just correct someone's spelling as a response to a comment? How pretentious. Maybe you should discover a little thing called "something worthwhile to say"

#5.1.1.2 Kay on 04/30/09 at 08:03 AM [Reply]

Hi! Just thought I'd let you know, GSP123, that in your comment, it should read- 'before making AN idiotic post'; instead of "before making A idiotic post". Thank you!

#5.2 LAWDAWG on 05/05/09 at 06:39 PM [Reply]

Some of you people absolutely amaze me. You are always wanting to know how Police Officers working Interdiction on I-85 makes Commerce safer. Let me give you a quick lesson in drug distribution. You see, Atlanta is one of the top 3 drug hubs (Distribution Points) in the US. Drugs come in from the Valley in Texas to Atlanta and are distrubuted out to towns in Georgia there to be sold and delivered to places like New York and Miami. So what you don't know or read about in the paper is that when you seize the Cartels money and drugs, you take away there power. If those of you that complained ever worked a narcotics investigation or had access to one of the many tools Police use to work drug investigations, you would hear or maybe see that when you seize these items it becomes more difficult for street level dealers to access drugs to sale in our neighborhoods. So do me a favor, before you gripe and complain about Interdiction efforts on I-85, talk to someone that can explain how the game works and maybe then you will appreciate the men and women that put their lives on the line trying to intercept illegal contraband working this dangerous specialized duty.

#6 maxsportz on 04/24/09 at 10:13 PM [Reply]

Let's not make the argument that these fines are unreasonable because of the tough economy. Oppressive fines are wrong in any economy.

"After all, one can avoid the charge if one obeys all traffic and other laws, the justification ".
This reasoning is laughable. They make so many rules that one could not possibly keep up with them all. The rules are not made for people to obey. They are made so that people WILL break them so fines can be collected.

Another point is the fact that those in "power" are not held responsible when they break the rules. Ex. tax cheats in Obama's crew, Constitution destroyers in Bush's crew, some police officers doing whatever they feel like (guy who stopped NFLer while his Mother in law died) . Why does the average person feel obligated to follow the rules of the most corrupt among us? Natural law should be obeyed (not harming others).

#7 anon on 04/25/09 at 10:57 AM [Reply]

I think it is ridiculous that everyone keeps harping on I-85 being patrolled but like to suggest using the seized drug funds on everyting. Wake up people you can't have everything the way you want it. I do agree that it is not the time to add more fines, fees, and surcharges to everything. I also don't see what the fuss is over who patrols 85. City and county officers go through the exact same training and are equally capable of patrolling this area. However, Commerce has several officers specifically trained to work drug interdiction and they are the primary ones patrolling the interstate. The conifscated drug funds are supposed to be used to purchase the equipment they use so it does not come out of taxpyers pockets through the budget. Although in this case it doesnt appear that it is being used for that otherwise their would be no need to add this surhcarge. However, if 85 is within the city limits limits then the officers are required by law and oath to provide service to that area no matter what the citizens think about it.

#8 T. P on 04/25/09 at 05:19 PM [Reply]

Maybe we need to get rid of some of the paid city employees that make more than 50,000 per year. That would make more than the surcharge. We need some new vision in there anyway.

#8.1 In the know on 04/27/09 at 06:24 PM [Reply]

The city of Commerce is saving alot of money but letting the county pay the salary of Judge Billy Chandler while he goes to training for his job as city court judge. Wonder why the county does that. I might better check and see if my county taxes are used for that. I'm sure the city appreciates it though. They can use that money somewhere else.

#8.2 J.L on 05/08/09 at 11:47 AM [Reply]

I thank you hit the nail on the head. why does the city of commerce have two City Managers. when we only need one.

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City should rethink increase in 'technology surcharge'

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