Auburn Traffic Violators Might Get Warning Instead Of Ticket

AUBURN (CBS13) — Flashing lights in your rearview usually means one thing — a ticket — but not necessarily in one local city.

Instead of writing citations, Auburn officers now have another option. They can give a word of warning.

Officer Adam Cline pulled over an SUV on Tuesday for having two lights out. Instead of giving the driver a fix-it ticket "we're issuing her the new warning ticket."

Renee Ericson was off the hook, and hopefully a lesson was learned.

"I didn't know I did anything," she said. "I appreciate him letting me know and I'll have my mechanic fix it right away."

The new warning will tell you what the fine would have been. Speeding will cost you at least $285 and could be more than $580, $481 for running a red light, $156 for using a cell phone and $131 for not buckling up.

"Obvisouly this is going to be reducing that revenue, but not significantly, and again we don't want to be considered a revenue generator," Auburn Police Chief John Ruffcorn said.

The chief says the city made only about $15,000 last year off the 1,300 traffic citations officers issued.

"People think we work on quotas, which is not true," Cline said.

Police hope the warning option will show residents they're not out to make money, and that the main concern is public safety. Also, repeat offenders won't get a free ride. They'll be on file and would likely get a ticket for a second offense.

"For me a warning worked and for a lot of people it might," one resident said.

Police say so far over the past three months traffic violations have already gone down.