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City attorney proposes traffic code updates to align with state law and increase penalties for extreme speeding
Summary
The city prosecution division proposed amendments to municipal code to update the definition of 'minibike,' adjust the city's speed-related fine structure consistent with state changes, and expand reckless-driving language to treat driving at double the speed limit as evidence of recklessness.
The Lincoln City Council on Sept. 8 heard a presentation from the prosecution division proposing three traffic-related code amendments intended to align municipal penalties and definitions with recent state law changes.
Jessica Karakos, chief assistant city attorney in the prosecution division, explained the proposed changes: update the municipal definition of “minibike” to reflect recent legislative mechanical specifications; revise local speeding-fine language to remain consistent with state law changes (the city’s prosecutorial authority remains limited to fines up to $500); and expand the municipal reckless-driving ordinance to include driving at more than double the posted speed limit as evidence of recklessness. Karakos noted a recent legal change meant that speed alone had not previously been admissible as proof of reckless driving, and the proposed amendment would provide an additional enforcement tool for extreme-speed incidents.
Karakos said portions of the state law that set much larger statutory fines (for example, elevated fines in school or construction zones) are outside the city’s $500 limit and therefore the municipal code language must be adjusted to exclude penalties the city cannot impose. The prosecution division presented the amendments for council consideration; no adoption vote is recorded in the transcript.
No members of the public spoke on the item during the meeting.
