Fining Hybrid Owners more for Speeding – No
Speed limits are set to allow for the greatest safety for drivers and pedestrians. Fines for speeding are set to discourage people from exceeding the safe speed and to punish those who choose to exceed it anyway. Many people will argue that speeding fines are really meant as a source of revenue for the government. The type of vehicle the person is driving should not have anything to do with the amount of fine, except for maybe semis and heavy trucks since they are heavier and can do more damage if they hit anything. The question of fining owners of hybrids more than owners of conventional vehicles simply doesn't make any sense.
The type of car you own is a personal choice. So is obeying or disobeying the driving laws. I will admit that I own a hybrid vehicle. I will also admit that I occasionally exceed the speed limit. I usually try to go with the flow of traffic. When on a freeway, most cars will go over the speed limit by at least 10 mph so I try to keep up. I don't pass every car but just try to keep up with the majority of the cars on the road. When on a residential street, however, I go the requisite 25 mph or slower. The higher the chance of people coming out unexpectedly, the slower I will go. Does this excuse me for my speeding? No. I will also say that if I do get caught speeding, I will take my pittance and pay my fine. This has nothing to do with the type of car I own.
Hybrids are vehicles meant to maximize gas usage and minimize emissions into the environment. Hybrid owners are offered a tax credit the year they purchase the vehicle. You could assume the government wishes more of us to own hybrids. It is better for the environment to use a hybrid car and uses less gas, which is a limited resource. When you drive a hybrid car you learn how to maximize the gas usage for your car. Speeding actually doesn't help. If a hybrid car is exceeding the speed limit, the driver is at fault not the car. The same is true with any other car.
Any driver who exceeds the speeding limit should be fined. The fine should be dependent on the speed. It should depend on where the speeding occurred. If a driver speeds around a school or park, the fine should be increased since there is a greater risk of hitting a child or pedestrian. Residential areas should also be protected. The amount of the fine should be dependent on the danger imposed on those in the area such as residential, schools, or parks. The type of car should not have anything to do with it. Speeding is the decision of the driver not because of the car.
