The articles in this Sunday’s newspaper (Aug. 29) on speeding traffic were a primer for those scofflaws who place all of us using the public roads at risk. Shame on the Sun Journal.

What we learn is the following:

Unless you exceed the limit by more than 15 mph, a ticket is unlikely.

You can play the system in Androscoggin County to avoid paying the full price for a violation, perhaps getting the case dismissed if you can get another date for a hearing.

You can’t play the system in Kennebec County as the district attorney doesn’t plea bargain traffic cases.

There is little incentive for local police to enforce traffic laws because all fines go to the General Fund. The local department has to pay overtime for the arresting officer to attend court on most court days.

The two offenses most likely to result in injuries or property damage are speeding, which increases the extent of the damage, and running traffic signals. It is almost impossible to drive in the Lewiston-Auburn area without seeing some driver run a red light. Many accidents involve both of these violations.

Our automobile insurance rates might see a significant drop if our traffic laws were strictly enforced. Both the police and prosecutors would have to change their present practices to achieve anything meaningful.

The Legislature could encourage such enforcement by allocating a significant percentage of traffic fines to the ticketing departments.

Herbert Bunker, Auburn

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