DRIVERS in a major state risk being slapped with fines of $250 for breaking serious driving laws.
Motorists in Kennewick in Washington State could be hit with the eye-watering fines if they cut through private properties to avoid spotlights and traffic.
Motorists in Kennewick will be hit with fines if they violate a fresh state law[/caption]
Locals will be ordered to pay the fee if they cut through private properties to avoid spotlights and traffic[/caption]
The law was put into effect last week and will prohibit drivers from racing through parking lots and private driveways to avoid traveling through intersections and stop lights.
Steptoe Street and Victoria Avenue have experienced a spike in motorists taking shortcuts after a fresh curb was installed following renovations at the intersection.
Those who break the law will be slapped with a $250 fine.
“It’s actually pretty common as cities grow and volumes grow at intersections,” said John Cowling, Kennewick Public Works Director.
“The real emphasis right now is education, so people know that this is now illegal.”
And it’s not the only state which is set to hand out hefty fines for driving violations.
According to DUI laws, as well as the Lincoln Police Department’s enforcement campaign website, drivers in Nebraska face fines ranging from $500 for first offenses to $10,000 for third and fourth offenses depending on blood alcohol content (BAC) levels and prior convictions.
Jail time is also a risk under these specific DUI laws, ranging from a few days for first offenses to up to three years for fourth offenses.
To keep drivers in the know, the Lincoln Police Department’s upcoming “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign works to emphasize making safe choices and avoiding impaired driving.
As vehicle owners know, driving while drunk or high is illegal, and penalties depend on the driver’s BAC and the number of prior DUI convictions.
Operating or being in “actual physical control” of a vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or more or while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
For commercial drivers, a BAC of 0.04% or more is illegal, while for drivers under 21, a BAC of 0.02%-0.08% can result in penalties.
For first offenders, they risk fines of $500, jail time of seven to 60 days and license revocation for six months to one year.
And for a second offense, there’s fines of up to $1,000, jail time of 30 days to one year and license revocation for 18 months to 15 years.
ON THE CAMPAIGN
The Lincoln Police Department’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which runs from August 15 to 30, focuses on removing impaired drivers from city streets during weekends.
It’s part of a nationwide effort led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to reduce DUI-related crashes, injuries and fatalities.
In Nebraska, statistics show that 30% of traffic fatalities are alcohol-related, with 6,325 DUI arrests in 2022 and a 3.6% increase in DUIs in 2023.
Grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office means additional law enforcement resources will be deployed without impacting routine calls.
