St. Pete Considers Fines for Drivers Who Damage Potholes
ST. PETERSBURG — City officials are considering fines for motorists who damage potholes while driving on St. Petersburg streets, citing the growing cost of repeated vehicle impacts throughout the city.
Under the proposal, drivers could be held financially responsible for striking a pothole or causing deterioration to the surrounding roadway.
“People tend to think that because a pothole is already there, they can just drive over it without consequences,” a city spokesperson said. “But every impact creates additional costs for the city.”
City budget analyst Graham Whitmore says the expense comes as St. Petersburg is already preparing for significant cuts to public services.
“People see millions of dollars sitting in various city funds and assume that means the city has money,” Whitmore said. “But much of that funding is restricted, committed, assigned or otherwise unavailable. Food and hospitality expenses, for example, support essential government operations and simply cannot be redirected every time an irresponsible motorist damages a pothole.”
Officials say St. Petersburg’s network of Flock cameras will be used to identify vehicles that damage potholes. License-plate information would then be used to issue civil citations directly to the vehicle’s registered owner.
Penalties would be based on the severity of the impact, the amount of damage and whether the driver had a reasonable opportunity to avoid the pothole. Motorists who strike the same pothole repeatedly could face enhanced fines.
Mayor Ken Welch urged residents to remain patient, saying his administration understands their concerns about declining road conditions.
“If reelected, I’m committed to possibly making road repairs a priority during my next term,” Welch said. “In the meantime, we’re asking motorists to slow down, remain alert and avoid causing any damage.”
Officials say revenue from the citations could be used to install additional Flock cameras and study whether a roadway preservation surcharge could be added to residents’ monthly utility bills.
Residents who witness a motorist damaging a pothole are encouraged to submit the vehicle’s license plate number through the city’s ClickSnitch app.
