On I-15, fewer speeding tickets with 80 mph limit

It’s been roughly four months since the speed limit was raised to 80 miles per hour on many of Idaho’s interstates, and on at least one highway, the number of speeding tickets has fallen.

According to Idaho State Police, only 982 speeding tickets were issued on Interstate 15 from July 24 to Nov. 13, 2014. That’s a 5 percent decrease from the number of tickets issued during the same time frame last year.

“Those are the factual numbers, but there are other things that are involved in that,” said Capt. Eric Dayley with Idaho State Police.

Part of the reason for the decrease in tickets may have been the fact that there weren’t as many troopers handing them out, said Dayley.

“Right now we’re down by about 30 percent on troopers,” said Dayley.

On Interstate 86, 15 more tickets were handed out during the four-month period this year – an almost 13 percent increase.

Troopers hope it sends a clear message to drivers.

“The speed limit sign is black and white. There’s no gray color on the sign. That’s the maximum allowable speed limit,” said Dayley.

According to ISP, speeding tickets increased almost 20 percent on Interstate 84 in the western part of the state.