Your Traffic Violations are Subtly Fueling Budgets in These Cities | Carscoops

      The state of Utah permits that tickets and fines can constitute 25 percent of revenue without any repercussions.

      Six hours ago

      by Stephen Rivers

      In 2024, six cities in Utah generated over 10 percent of their general fund revenue from traffic fines.

      Leading this trend is Sunset, which collected nearly $500,000, accounting for 14.7 percent of its revenue from traffic enforcement.

      This situation raises increasing concerns regarding quotas, policing priorities, and a decline in public trust.

      Certain small towns in Utah may be extracting more from your glove box than you realize. A recent report from the Utah State Auditor’s Office indicates that numerous cities throughout the state are increasingly relying on traffic fines to supplement their budgets, despite a 2021 law intended to discourage such practices.

      Additionally: One tap at a red light could soon cost you $50 in Pennsylvania.

      The audit points out six cities where revenue from traffic-related fines and fees constituted over 10 percent of their general fund revenue in 2024. Sunset tops the list, having generated $499,950 from traffic fines, which is nearly 15 percent of its total general fund.

      Legal Loopholes Maintain the Revenue Flow

      Remarkably, this is not technically illegal. The 2021 legislation, Senate Bill 75, only mandated that cities forfeit excess revenue if fines and fees surpassed a quarter of their general fund. This implies that Sunset could have pursued fines and fees even more aggressively without facing any penalties. Even if traffic fines had accounted for more than 25 percent of its revenue, it would have faced no fines; that money would have simply gone to the Utah Department of Transportation.

      Legally speaking, Sunset was still 10.1 percent under the allowable limit. Nonetheless, this situation raises significant concerns. The auditor’s report noted that an overreliance on fines can redirect police priorities from public safety to revenue generation. Although ticket quotas are prohibited in Utah, such reports raise doubts about whether departments are still engaging in these practices.

      Other Cities Demonstrate Similar Trends

      A recent report from the Utah State Auditor reveals that six cities depend on traffic fines for over 10 percent of their general fund. Sunset is particularly notable, having collected $500,000 from fines, which constituted nearly 15 percent of its revenue last year. These figures prompt questions about enforcement priorities and police quotas.

      Mantua City ranked second, with tickets contributing 13 percent of its revenue. This figure has significantly decreased from 2014 when more than a third of its total revenue came from speeding fines. It's worth mentioning that we specified speeding fines, not all traffic fines, which accounted for over $221,000 out of a total revenue of $649,000, according to KUTV.

      Other cities that received more than 10 percent of their revenue from traffic citations include Enoch, Naples, Gunnison, and South Salt Lake. Is this approach sustainable for small cities, or should they explore alternative methods of revenue generation? Share your thoughts in the comments!