If you’re looking for a good town to speed through, you might want to avoid Lakewood, where a ticket is apt to cost more money.
Lakewood uses a graduated fine schedule, meaning for speeding tickets in the city, traffic tickets received anywhere in Colorado in the last two years would drive up the Lakewood fine by $30 per previous violation.
The policy doesn’t sit well with Cheri Bettini, whose 23-year-old son recently received a speeding ticket in Lakewood that was bargained down to unsafe lane change. However, because of two past offenses in Denver and Arapahoe County, the fine was increased by $60.
“Why should Lakewood be able to generate that kind of revenue when the ticket was already paid in the other cities?” Bettini said. “I think they’re trying to get every buck they can out of these people.”
Shauna Moore, an administrator with the Lakewood courts, said the policy has always been in place. It’s not a response to Lakewood’s ailing budget. She defended the practice.
“It makes sense that the person with a clean record has a lesser fine,” Moore said. “Basing the fines on previous driving records has always been the policy of Lakewood’s municipal courts, and it’s not unusual.”
Denver, Arvada and Wheat Ridge may take past offenses into consideration when assessing a fine, but they are not automatic as in Lakewood.
However, Golden uses a graduated fine schedule. On multiple-point violations, the first violation within two years in Colorado is $25 per point. The second violation is $30 per point, and the third is $35.
“In a sense, it makes sense to have it set up that way,” said Jason Benson, 20, of Lakewood. “I think two years is kind of excessive, and, of course, it’s just another way for the government to make money.”
Katherine Pitcher, 60, of Lakewood said the policy compounds problems for anyone dealing with a traffic ticket.
“Everyone has debt, and they’re trying to eke out a living,” she said. “Why would you want to add this? Why would you want to double dip?”
Bettini maintains the policy is the result of Lakewood’s greed.
“For them to set their fines like that, they’re gouging people,” she said. “I don’t think it’s right.”