Road trip-up
If you head out of state for a road trip this summer, be sure to go easy on the gas pedal. A new study by George Mason University economists reveals out-of-town travelers have a 51 percent chance of receiving a citation when pulled over, compared with 30 percent for local drivers. Race and gender also may determine whether traffic violations are issued, the researchers found. Male drivers and Hispanic drivers receive more tickets than other drivers, the study determined. Young women receive fewertickets. Other study findings:
– The farther a driver lives from the courthouse where the ticket could be challenged, the more likely it is he or she will be ticketed. Also, the fines will likely be higher.
– Local officers are more likely to issue a ticket when citizens vote down property tax increases.
– Police are less likely to issue a ticket in towns that depend on tourism revenue.
