FDOT considers signs that would show speeding fine amounts

ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida is considering posting new speed signs that would show speeding drivers exactly how much their fine would be if ticketed.

The interactive signs are a relatively new invention, and the basic idea is to get drivers to slow down, Channel 9’s Christopher Heath learned.

However, the state just wrapped up a major study to find whether there may be a more impressive number to flash, and that would be how much your speeding ticket will cost.

Rick Curtin said he can't remember exactly how much his last speeding ticket was, but he does remember it was expensive enough that he hasn't gotten another one in two years.

"It was speeding and going through a failure to yield. I think if I knew how much it was going to cost me, I would have probably slowed down,” Curtin said.

That’s the idea behind the Florida Department of Transportation’s latest plan. The department recently finished a study of road signs and one major area of focus was the effectiveness of signs that deliver real-time speed.

“On one Interstate 4 exit ramp, the left side of the road has a sign clearly marking the speed limit as 55 mph. On the other side of the road is another sign that lets drivers know how fast they’re going.

But the state said most people don’t care about knowing their speed, so they’re considering the sign that shows how much the fine would be.

Lake Mary Police Officer Zach Hudson said the first question most people ask when he writes them a ticket is, “How much will this cost me?”

“The bottom line is citations are expensive and it's going to hurt someone in their pocket, and people get that,” said Hudson.

Most speed signs could be retrofitted and updated with new software for a small cost, official said.

FDOT said nothing has been approved and that they’re only exploring the possibility of changing the signs.

WFTV