SWGA Politics

Should Local Law Enforcement Patrol Federal Highways?

If you drive on the Interstates very much at all, you’ve seen city cops sitting on them with the radar guns out. Most drivers deem these as “speed traps”, and they probably are. State Senator Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) has pre-filed a bill that would end this practice, at least somewhat.

I’ve been thinking about it, and doing some basic research, and honestly I’m torn on the measure. The way I read the section of US Code Seabaugh’s bill references, Seabaugh’s bill would do quite a bit more than just ban the City of Forsyth Police Department from sitting on I-75 – just as an example there.

In fact, it appears that this bill would ban the Albany Police Department from enforcing speed limits on Dawson RD, since Dawson RD is technically a US Highway, part of the National Highway System. Similarly, the Leesburg Police Department could not enforce the speed limit in downtown Leesburg because what Leesburg calls Walnut Ave is technically US 19 – and “Main Street” in Leesburg is technically US 32.

Cities across the State – I believe the bill only applies to cities, due to its use of the word “municipality” – would face similar issues, resulting in the County Sheriff’s Office having to enforce the speed limits on many key roads inside city limits. Thus, one side effect of this bill would be a redistribution of speed limit fine income from the City Treasury to the County Treasury – even though the offense occurred inside the city limits.

Another issue with this bill is that it doesn’t really stop speed traps – the County Sheriff’s Office (who I see on the Interstates MUCH more than actual city cops, at least outside of Atlanta) could still do them, and thus could still get the income they generate. All this bill does is say that cities can no longer use this practice.

Thinking about it, I actually like the idea that only the Georgia State Patrol should enforce speed limits on the Interstates. They are a Statewide system, and the State should get the fine money.

Ideally, I would separate the Interstate system from the National Highway System though, as many US Highways are principal roads in counties and cities, sometimes the ONLY major roads in some cities! Let GSP handle the Interstates, but let the local governments operate in their own areas on the US Highways – don’t tie their hands.

That said, maybe I’m wrong here and the National Highway System isn’t as extensive as I think it is. By pre-filing this bill rather than waiting until later, Senator Seabaugh seems to genuinely want public discussion of it, so let’s see if we can get him some!