Speeders to pay for cops' gas, too

By MSN Money staff with wire reports

Speeders in the Atlanta suburb of Holly Springs, Ga., will soon face a $12 "fuel fee" when pulled over and ticketed, and Atlanta itself may not be far behind.

Police in the city of 7,700 were burning through their $38,050 budget for gas at a rate that would empty its coffers by late November. The new fee, which will go into effect July 1, could generate as much as $26,000 a year.

The city has received inquiries on the fee from several other local governments, including Key West, Fla., and Los Angeles County.

"It's a creative and innovative idea of our police chief," spokeswoman Holly CothranDrake told the AFP news agency.

Police Chief Ken Ball told USA Today: "I was hearing that Delta (Air Lines), pizza deliverers and florists were adding fuel charges to their services, and I thought, why not police departments?"

Atlanta sees way to ease shortfall

Though the surcharge in Holly Springs is aimed at gas costs, Atlanta may use the same tactic to ease its $140 million budget shortfall. As many as 300 Atlanta police and firefighter jobs could be cut if the city doesn't make up its shortfall.

The Atlanta City Council voted 13-0 to pass the ticket surcharge resolution, with one lawmaker seeing an opportunity to send a bill to the 600,000 or so commuters who work in Atlanta every day but don't live there.

"What we're trying to do is cover as much of the cost for police, fire and water and sewer and the use of our streets, by those who use them," Atlanta Councilman C.T. Martin told WXIA-TV.

"If you run a red light, stop sign, DUI or other ordinances -- break our ordinances -- there is a possibility there will be an additional $10 to $15 surcharge added to your fines," Martin said.

The Atlanta fee could raise a half-million additional dollars a year.