Brought to an abrupt halt in Tennessee's state legislature Wednesday was legislation that would have increased fines for motorists caught driving 25 mph or more above the posted speed limit, according to the house sponsor. The bill, similar in spirit to Georgia's own Super Speeder law, had been approved in the state Senate the Thursday prior by a 19-6 vote, though lost traction in the House Finance Committee's budget subcommittee. The probability of similar legislation seeing the light of day in the final days of the 106th General Assembly is slim to none, as most committee's are in the process of closing down for the term.
Tennessee's Super Speeder bill would subject offenders to fines of $200 to $500, plus any additional court costs incurred if the ticket were to be challenged in court. This is slightly different from Georgia's Super Speeder law HB160.
As of January 1st 2010, apprehended super speeders in Georgia receive an additional $200 state fee added to their ticket if convicted of driving 75 mph on any two-lane road or 85 mph and over anywhere in the state of Georgia.
Projected state revenue estimates of Tennessee's potential Super Speeder law are as high as $1.7 million per year, so it's quite possible similar legislation will see the light of day in the future. It just may take some time. Super Speeder law proponents in Georgia worked for five years to see the law come to fruition.
