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New fines aimed at Parkway
Speeders on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina are in for steeper fines - now $500 up from $150 - if park rangers deem the drivers were causing a serious
risk to themselves or others.
Tim Francis, district ranger for the southern portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway, said the new fine is a much-needed deterrent. Sport bikes are too
frequently clocked going "triple digit speeds" on curvy stretches, Francis said. The top speed Francis recalls is 120 mph. "Not only were they wrecking, but it was ruining
other people's experience who were trying
to take a casual drive," Francis said.
Last year, rangers were battling a group of professional riders who had a standing
challenge to fellow bikers: take the Parkway from Asheville to Swain County, ride the notorious Dragon's Tail in Graham County, and return via the Parkway as quickly as possible.
One speeder Francis ticketed for $150 replied it was "worth it" for the ride he just took. "They were looking at it as the cost of an admission ticket," Francis said.
"Some of these guys are good riders and could do it, but it was ruining other people's experience. Visitors come from all over the country for nice leisurely rides, not to watch the
races."
These excessive speeders pose threats to bicyclists, backpackers, pedestrians taking pictures near overlooks and wildlife foraging along the roadside, Francis said When
the $150 fine seemed too lenient given the speed, rangers required the speeder to appear in court, where a steeper fine could be levied.
The federal judges were consistently
"handing down $500 tickets for aggravated speeding," said John Garrison, chief ranger for the Parkway. So this month, U.S. Chief District Court
Judge Graham Mullen changed the
law, allowing rangers to write speeders up a $500 ticket per offence on the spot. "We're recognising the unique and high dangers represented by these aggressive driving
behaviours," said Garrison.
Garrison said the amount of the ticket will be based on the ranger's discretion of the circumstances - someone going 60 mph swerving and doing
wheelies could be as grievous as another biker going 80 mph. Extremely risky driving could earn a $1,000 fine, as rangers can levy $500 for speeding and another $500 for the separate offence
of reckless driving.
In cases where $1,000 still doesn't seem like enough, rangers can continue to require the speeder to come to court, Francis said. Francis has taken a speeder
to court and the judge handed down a $1,500 fine.
If the speeder wants to contest a fine, they always have the option of coming to court, Garrison said. Offences on the Parkway are
heard in federal court, as the Parkway is federal property.
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