Discussed Thursday night, the plan would prevent a court from reducing the extra fine, though that language could be dropped once the ordinance is voted on in a couple of weeks. The fine would only apply to streets where the speed limit is 25 mph. The city's default speed limit is 25 mph unless posted otherwise.

So if you speed 1 to 10 mph over the limit, you would pay $110.40 instead of $92, under the proposal. And if you drive 66 mph in a residential zone, you would pay $638.40.

"We're not looking at this as a money maker but something to educate people," said Councilman Dave Buhler, who, along with Councilwoman Jill Remington Love, devised the plan.

To ensure drivers can't claim ignorance, the proposal also calls for a $25,000 public awareness campaign before the enhanced fines start. Buhler anticipates new signs in neighborhoods where speeding is particularly excessive, warning drivers of the enhanced penalty.

Councilman Van Turner joked that the city should reduce fines for Davis County drivers. "We don't want to make 'em any madder," he said, referring to how many have vowed to stop shopping in the city after Mayor Rocky Anderson's State of the City comments criticizing.

The enhancement is the council's attempt to calm traffic after Buhler and Love led a charge to essentially gut the program last summer, forbidding the city to build such devices as speed bumps and raised crosswalks. A new plan to reduce speeding is being developed, which may include hiring more police officers to enforce speed limits.

hmay@sltrib.com