Atlanta to also add ticket surcharge

The Atlanta City Council has approved a citation surcharge in order to combat rising fuel prices.

The proposal is similar to a surcharge approved by Holly Springs on Monday.

Motorists cited for speeding, DUI or other traffic offenses could pay an extra $10 to $15. The council hopes the surcharge will raise at least $500 million.

City voting on extra speeding fee

Today city officials in Holly Springs, Ga. will vote on whether to add a $12 fuel fee to speeding tickets.

The fee is expected to help combat rising gas prices which are causing a deficit in the Holly Springs budget.

City officials say the police department has burned through more than half of its $38,050 fuel budget so far this year. Officials say at that rate, the department's fuel budget likely will be drained by late November.

North Georgia city to consider fuel charge for tickets

A north Georgia police department may have a new way to help combat the rising cost of gas for its fleet.

The city of Holly Springs in Cherokee County might be the first in Georgia to approve a fuel charge for certain types of tickets, including speeding. The proposed 12-dollar charge would also attach to violations of city ordinances.

Public safety departments across the state--and nation--are struggling with how to pay the soaring price of fuel for their vehicles.

Holly Springs police chief Ken Ball says all departments are grasping for straws in trying to keep the same level of public service.

"This gas cost is adversely affecting public safety. Ambulance services, fire departments, police departments…I don’t know what the answer is, but this is the only good answer I saw where the user pays".

Ball says the department’s annual gas budget of around 45-thousand dollars is nearly exhausted only six months into the year.

The Holly Springs City Council will consider the 12-dollar surcharge next week.