Higher traffic fines enacted last year by state lawmakers are flooding El Paso County coffers with money from speeders, drunk drivers and other traffic offenders.

The county collected $463,303 through May, compared to its expected traffic-fine take of $187,700, or 147 percent more than forecast.

County revenue forecasts are based on three-year historic trends, budget director Nicola Sapp said.

Although sheriff’s deputies are on pace to issue roughly 4 percent more tickets this year, ticket numbers aren’t the driving force. Fines are.

Last year, the legislature adopted a bill sponsored by Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Manitou Springs, and other lawmakers that doubled or even tripled many moving-violation fines. For example, the minimum fine for driving while ability impaired doubled to $200, and a second offense doubled to $600. Some signals and passing violations increased to $100 from $35.

Speeding fines doubled for offenses of 1 to 9 mph over the speed limit, while 10 to 19 mph over increased to $135 from $50.

The bill calls for half the fine money to go cities, towns and counties in which violations occurred and half to go to the state. If a violation took place on a state or federal highway in a city, town or county, the local jurisdiction keeps only 25 percent of the money, with 75 percent going to the state. If a state trooper issues the citation, the fine goes to the state.

 The state money funds highway work.

El Paso County is likely to use its extra cash to offset drops in other areas, such as interest on investments, which generated $131,070 through May, half the expected $270,833.

Enforcement, though, is on the rise a bit.

“We have had some DUI enforcement increases as the result of state-wide efforts and grants, but those are primarily driven by holidays,” Sheriff Terry Maketa said in an e-mail.

He added his deputies haven’t been told to beef up ticket-writing and that the ratio of warnings is holding steady at about 47 percent.

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Mel Trafton, beer boss at the El Paso County Fair Photo by