A bill to change speeding fines fell two votes short in the House.
The bill would have replaced the current system of different fines for different highways – with a flat 3 dollar penalty for every mile over the speed limit. Rep. Dan Ruby (R-Minot) says this would mean fees for speeding would go up at lower speeds, but would go down on Interstates and other four lane highways.
"This is a bill that gives a little bit of something for people to like, and a little bit for somebody to hate," said Ruby.
But Rep. Craig Headland R-Montpelier) says this may be an incentive for local law enforcement to generate money for their local governments.
"We know how law enforcement works," said Headland. "I'm not suggesting they're going to use this as anything more. But it will encourage them to generate revenue."
Forty-six House members voted for the bill – but it needed 48 to pass. Forty-five voted “no.”