Pitkin County adopts traffic code, but no citation frenzy planned
Aspen, CO Colorado
ASPEN – Pitkin County commissioners adopted the state’s Model Traffic Code on first reading Wednesday. The move, after it receives final approval, will allow the county to retain revenues from traffic citations that currently goes to the state.
Sheriff’s offices around Colorado are adopting the code this year in order to keep the citation revenues in their jurisdictions, said Undersheriff Joe DiSalvo.
Based on citations written through much of 2008, the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office anticipates the county could collect $50,000 a year to help support the general fund.
Local deputies won’t be writing more citations, though, DiSalvo vowed.
“I give you my word, that’s not going to happen,” he said. “We had a long discussion about that – there could be a perception that we’d write more tickets for the revenue.”
Nor can the county bank on a $50,000 infusion next year, DiSalvo added.
“We’re not going to write tickets just to get to the $50,000,” he said.
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