CALABASH, NC (WBTW)- The state of North Carolina recently launched a speed enforcement campaign under the tagline “obey the sign or pay the fine.”
From now until April 3, the NC Department of Transportation says officers will stop and ticket anyone caught driving over the speed limit.
New Jersey native Bernard Re says he’s pretty good about following the speed limit.
“I try not to go more than 5-6 miles over the speed limit,” he stated.
However, 5-6 miles over the speed limit could get you a ticket in North Carolina. Re heard on the news that officers would be ticketing drivers for as little as one mile over the speed limit.
“I’d be very upset, I’ll tell you that much,” he said.”
Larry Ingram said he was closely watching his speed coming from North Carolina Friday, but he was bound to go over at least a little bit.
“Just the calibration on your speedometer can be off a mile or two,” explained Ingram.”It’s an impractical statement, try and get out on Highway 17 and maintain a 55 mph speed limit. It’s pretty hard to do.”
North Carolina Highway Patrol Sgt. Troy Pope told News 13 over the phone that they will not be ticketing people for going one mile over the speed limit.He says they write tickets for definite, clear violations of the law. DOT tweeted this statement,
“Our troopers still have reasonable discretion when it comes to enforcing our traffic laws. earlier reports that we would be ticketing drivers going one or two miles over the speed limit were based on a misinterpretation of the initiative.”
In 2015, speeding was a contributing factor in 23% of all fatal crashes in North Carolina.
