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Speed trap or strict enforcement of existing laws? The Charleston Gazette's Gary A. Harki has an interesting story about the town of Gauley Bridge:
In the past three and a half years, Gauley Bridge police have issued 5,057 speeding tickets -- more than any other city or town in the state, according to figures from the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles.
Every year since 2006, the town has collected at least a half-million dollars in fines, fees and court costs -- including speeding tickets, according to documents from the State Auditor's Office. That figure also includes other violations, such as parking tickets.
The fees make up well over 50 percent of the town's budget for each of the past five years.
Even taking a longer view -- since 2000 -- Gauley Bridge police officers have written 6,270 speeding tickets, more than any municipality except Charleston and Parkersburg, according to DMV statistics.
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