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Missouri House version of traffic fines fix moves forward, singles out 'suburban areas'

Jason Rojas | Flickr

A Missouri House committee has passed a revised version of a bill to further limit how much revenue from traffic fines cities and towns can use in their budgets.

The "House Substitute"for Senate Bill 5 would reduce the cap from the current 30 percent statewide to 20 percent, except for St. Louis County, where it would be reduced to 15 percent. The version passed by the Senate in February would limit traffic fine revenues to 10 percent in "suburban areas" and 20 percent in rural areas.

The dueling proposals both seek to update the 1995 Macks Creek law, named for a now unincorporated community near the Lake of the Ozarks that had a reputation as a speed trap. It's also one of the top priorities for leaders seeking to address issues that led to the unrest in Ferguson.

Credit Jason Rojas | Flickr

Some St. Louis-area lawmakers, including Democrat Mike Colona, say it should be the same percentage statewide.

"My hope is that we can send a message back to the Senate that says 'Hey, we don't know why you want to penalize St. Louis County, if it's for PR, whatever," Colona said, "but unless we have a rhyme or a reason, let's keep it the same."

The Senate sponsor, Republican Eric Schmitt of Glendale, is on record as saying many of the cities and towns that have a reputation for relying too heavily on traffic fines for their budgets are located in St. Louis County.

In addition, the House version would cap fines for minor traffic violations at $200 and forbid judges to jail someone for failing to appear in court for a minor traffic offense. Despite passing 10-0, some committee members questioned whether it would make traffic laws too weak.

"The (speeding) ticket gets amended to 'illegal parking,' and the fine is $300," Colona said. "It's under 4 points, (and) the way I read the bill, you can't do a warrant if you don't pay, you can't do an FTA (Failure to Appear) if you don't pay... so again I'm trying to figure out what hammer there is to get people to pay the fines."

House Judiciary chair Kevin Austin, R-Springfield, says it's likely, but not certain, that the bill will be taken up by the full House later in the week.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter:  @MarshallGReport 

Copyright 2021 St. Louis Public Radio. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio.

Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.
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