PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW: More than 1,200 towns in Pennsylvania that rely exclusively on state police for protection would forfeit revenue from traffic ticket fines under Gov. Tom Corbett’s 2012 budget proposal.
Under the current arrangement, a traffic fine is split 50-50 between the state and the town, Corbett spokeswoman Susan Hooper said. Corbett proposed to redirect the towns’ share of ticket revenue — which can range from about $3,000 in Hanover, Beaver County, to $45,000 in Hempfield, Westmoreland County — to the state police for the purchase of radio equipment this year and for other equipment, as needed, thereafter.
“When I heard this proposal might be coming, I was mad. I didn’t want to give any money back to the state,” said Mike O’Barto, supervisors chairman in Unity, Westmoreland County, which receives about $25,000 annually from fines. “But since we rely on the state police, we also need to step up to the plate and do our part… (more)
EDITOR: Seems fair enough!