Heidelberg Asks State to Increase Traffic Fines

Heidelberg police Chief Vernon Barkley and borough officials are asking the state to add a $10 surcharge to traffic tickets to help pay for fueling up municipal police cars.

Barkley has been formulating the idea for the past month and Heidelberg Borough Council passed a resolution at its Tuesday night meeting backing the proposal.

He said municipal police departments get very little money generated from traffic tickets, and a $10 surcharge would pay for most of Heidelberg’s $16,000 yearly fuel budget. He said the borough usually issues 1,000 to 1,600 moving violation citations each year.

“It’s not hurting anyone unless you violate the law,” Barkley said. “This is a no-brainer and a win-win for everybody.”

Well, not everybody.

A week after Gov. Tom Corbett announced deep budget cuts to education, the Democratic state legislator who represents this area seriously doubted whether the proposal would ever reach the Republican-controlled House for debate.

“Governor Corbett will not sign a bill raising fees or any taxes,” state Rep. Nick Kotik wrote in an e-mail Wednesday morning. “It has no chance of being considered.”

A letter was sent to the governor and various state officials, but Barkley said he has not heard back from any of them while they debate the budget.

Also during the meeting…

-The borough is working to have the Heidelberg fire hall certified as a Red Cross Designated Shelter in the event of an emergency. Borough workers, firefighters and the fire department’s Ladies Auxiliary also plan to train in either April or May to become certified Red Cross volunteers.

-Council agreed to spend $5,000 to install ADA compliant sidewalk ramps along Route 50 when PennDOT repaves the roadway this summer. The borough will also place the handicap accessible ramps on a portion of East Railroad Street using $10,200 of economic development money from Allegheny County. In addition, there are plans to pave two blocks of Plum Way.

-Heidelberg’s municipal government received a slew of state honors recently. Mayor Ken LaSota received the distinguished service award for exemplary public service from the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs. Also, Council President Ray Losego was honored with the Cecil K. Leberknight award for 10 years service to the borough. Meanwhile, the borough’s municipal website won first place in judging by the Borough News Magazine.