CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Bad news for drivers who take quick shortcuts through Clarksville neighborhoods: Speed limits are dropping to 20 mph and tickets are rising to $500.

A state law passed this year and signed by Gov. Bill Lee allows cities to take both measures, and the Clarksville City Council voted unanimously to approve them last week.

Currently, if a residential street in Clarksville doesn’t have a posted speed limit, the default speed limit is 30 mph. Starting July 1, that default speed limit will drop to 20 mph.

At the same time, police officers will be given the option of citing a speeder to General Sessions Court with a $500 ticket. Previously, police were limited to $50 tickets in City Court.

The sponsor of the ordiance, Councilperson Deanna McLaughlin, had this to say on the matter:

“My hope is that people will think twice about the cost of receiving a citation before speeding in residential areas,” McLaughlin said in a news release. “Due to the increase in population and traffic in Clarksville, residential streets, now more than ever, are used as cut throughs from one major road to another.

“Citizens want safe neighborhoods and safe neighborhoods include being able to walk on your street and not be at risk of being hit by a car that is driving in excess of 25 mph,” she said.

City of Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts joined in on the conversation and added the following:

“I am thankful to Councilperson Deanna McLaughlin for bringing this ordinance forward,” Mayor Pitts said in a news release. “Our primary goal remains to slow down the vehicles that travel through our neighborhoods.  Speeding anywhere at any time will not be tolerated.”

This article was contributed by Chris Smith. 

Correction: The cost of a ticket for speeding in Clarksville neighborhoods can actually amount to $500.