- Two new speed cameras installed in Morrison, Colorado, caught a staggering 10,287 speeding violations from May 8 to May 22.
- Everyone caught going 10 mph over the 25 mph speed limit will be mailed a $40 ticket.
- The police chief was surprised by the number of citations, but said that the cameras are not a “money grab”.
The small town of Morrison in Colorado, often dubbed a “speed trap,” continues to live up to its reputation. In just two weeks, two new speed cameras managed to dish out a whopping 10,287 tickets—a figure that even caught the local police chief off guard.
The radar cameras were installed back in March, but for a 60-day grace period, they merely issued gentle warnings before officially going live in May. One camera remains fixed at an intersection, while the other is mounted on a trailer, ensuring the police can strategically relocate it as needed.
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Astonishingly, the staggering tally of 10,000+ speeding violations was clocked in just two weeks between May 8 and May 22. These numbers reflect drivers nabbed for cruising from 10 mph (16 km/h) over the 25 mph (40 km/h) speed limit marked on the signs.
Bill Vinelli, Chief of Morrison Police, said that the large number of speeding violations forced them to upgrade their data plan in order to keep up with the needs of the new equipment. Vinelli also revealed that police officers issued 135 handwritten tickets for the entire month of April, which is nothing compared to the 1,421 speeding violations caught by the camera in a single day in May.
With so many fines, the town’s coffers could swell by nearly $400,000 in just two weeks, provided all offenders cough up the cash. Nonetheless, Vinelli insists that the traffic cameras aren’t just a “money grab”; rather, they were strategically placed with the aim of enhancing safety on the roads. Take that as you will.
Morrison, Colorado / Google Maps
The historic municipality might have a population of only 396 people (at least according to Wikipedia), but it attracts a significant number of visitors and tourists each year. As a result, its roads can get congested with pedestrians during events, meaning that drivers should be extra careful. Having said that, the trailer-mounted camera is placed towards the town’s exit instead of the entrance, something that could lead to more citations, as most drivers accelerate before merging onto the highway.
You won’t be surprised to learn that the city of Morrison has faced accusations of relying on speeding citations as a revenue source. According to a consulting, nearly half of the town’s budget in 2021 came from fines. As reported by CBS News, a former police chief alleged he was “pushed out” because the department wasn’t writing enough checks under his supervision.
Speaking to 9 News, the new police chief said: “Before I got here, Morrison had the reputation of being a speed trap. I wasn’t here then, I can’t comment to that. What I can comment to is me being here as the chief of police for the last two years, I’ve not seen a decrease. If you know Morrison’s a speed trap, then why are you speeding through Morrison?”
