South Georgia City Found Guilty of Altering Speeding Tickets to Bypass State Revenue Laws

Lenox's Speed Detection Permits Suspended

In an era where traffic cameras, EZ Pass scanners, and smart cars are used to monitor drivers' activities, a city in South Georgia has been found guilty of using a more traditional method to manipulate the system. The Georgia Department of Public Safety suspended the speed detection permits of the city of Lenox for 180 days in July. This city, located on I-75, approximately three hours south of Atlanta, was found to have changed speeding citations to “unsafe driving.” This action allowed the city to bypass a state law that limits revenue from speeding fines to 35% of a police budget.

Audit Reveals Discrepancies in Lenox's Budget

An audit conducted revealed that nearly 40% of Lenox’s budget in the previous year came from these altered fines. The city was found to have "consistently altered" tickets, which effectively excluded the fines and forfeitures for citations issued for speeding, according to a report from Atlanta News First.

Revenue Cap Surpassed in 2023

DPS Commissioner Col. William Hitchens stated that while Lenox has been altering tickets for years, it only surpassed the 35% revenue cap in 2023. The audit revealed that the city initially reported $477,685 from speeding fines. However, after adjusting for the altered citations, the total increased to $514,456—a $36,771 difference.

Lenox Relied Heavily on Police-Generated Revenue

The report from Atlanta News First indicates that Lenox relied on police-generated revenue more than any other city in Georgia. The city collected $1.3 million—73% of its budget—from fines and forfeitures in 2022.

Officials Remain Silent on the Issue

Neither Mayor Henry Baker nor Police Chief Shane Daughtrey responded to requests for comments on the issue. During a DPS hearing, Daughtrey apologized, referring to the issue as an "honest mistake." Investigators disputed this claim, noting that 85% of the police budget came from fines and that nearly all speeding tickets were issued on I-75, not city streets.

Public Reaction

Charlie Johnson, who received a ticket from Lenox Police, expressed his dissatisfaction, stating: “It’s an abuse of power. I felt very abused, taken advantage of.”

Bottom Line

This incident raises important questions about the integrity of law enforcement agencies and their adherence to state laws. It also highlights the potential misuse of power by such agencies. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you believe there should be stricter regulations to prevent such incidents in the future? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.