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EN "ARPHILLS <br />MEMORANDUM <br />DATE: October 18, 2010 <br />TO: <br />FROM: Patrick Klaers, City Administrato <br />SUBJECT: Traffic Administrative Fines Program <br />Background <br />Honorable Mayor and City Council Members <br />The 2009 Legislature approved a law that allowed municipalities to establish programs <br />for Traffic Administrative Fines. Arden Hills discussed this concept in late 2009. The <br />Council decision at that time was to not participate in a Traffic Administrative Fines <br />program. All of the other cities in the RCSD Contract Cities group did decide to <br />participate. <br />In the summer of 2010, I updated the Council on the status of the Traffic Administrative <br />Fines program for the Contract Cities group in Ramsey County. During the City budget <br />work session, the Council indicated that they were open to participating in the program <br />but that they wanted to discuss it further at an upcoming work session. <br />Discussion Points <br />Attached is one page of data from the RCSD on the Traffic Administrative Fines program <br />for the Contract Cities group and the minutes from the June 17, 2010 meeting where an <br />update on the program was provided. To call the program successful, and to say that the <br />Sheriff's Department and the public support the program would be an understatement. I <br />haven't heard from anyone who feels like the program has been abused and that Deputies <br />are being overly aggressive in enforcement of the program. Feedback that I have received <br />on the program is that the motoring public wants and likes the program and residential <br />citizens wants and likes the program. <br />The program does generate a minor amount of revenue to offset some law enforcement <br />expenses, but "more revenues" is not the main purpose of the program. The main purpose <br />of the program is to enhance pubic safety. Everyone is aware that most Judges do not <br />support Police Officers and Deputies giving out speeding tickets for less than 10 mph <br />over the limit. These cases can clog the court system for relatively minor offences. The <br />Traffic Administrative Fines program helps to address this situation. <br />