SD troopers issuing more tickets since speed limit upped to 80 mph on interstates

SIOUX FALLS — The number of speeding tickets issued by South Dakota state troopers has gone up since the state's top speed limit increased from 75 mph to 80 mph nearly two years ago.

According to an analysis of ticket data by the Argus Leader, in the nearly two years before the speed limit increase, troopers wrote 12,585 speeding tickets on interstates and state highways. For the same period following the change, troopers wrote 18,227 citations.

The surge began on day one. During the month of April 2015, a total of 1,012 tickets were issued. That's more than double the 465 tickets issued in April 2014.

The newspaper reported that while the numbers show the Highway Patrol is more aggressive at enforcing the speed limit, they don't show whether troopers are writing more tickets to speeders who were only slightly speeding, or whether they were giving motorists more leeway before the speed limit changed. That's because the Highway Patrol wouldn't release the speeds of motorists cited. Argus Leader Media filed an appeal, which is pending.

Read more: http://www.capjournal.com/news/sd-troopers-issuing-more-tickets-since-speed-limit-upped-to/article_fb2158e4-11d8-11e7-8450-cbaec8a7c5b2.html