Speeding near schools targeted
School zone speeders would face much steeper fines under a bill that overwhelmingly passed the Idaho Senate on Tuesday.
Idaho already has enhanced penalties for speeding in work zones to protect highway workers, said Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene. “I would hope we would offer our schoolchildren the same protection,” he said.
SB 1361, which Goedde sponsored, adds a $75 enhanced penalty for speeding in school zones. When court costs of $41.50 are added on top of that, the total fine would be $116.50. The bill passed the Senate on a 29-5 vote; objections mainly centered around signage questions and the definition of when “children are present.” Goedde said it’s up to local jurisdictions whether to post signs limiting when speed zones are in effect.
Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls, said, “I have stood out there in years past, 20 years as a school principal, and watched people drive by and through crosswalks with children in the crosswalks. This bill may not be perfect, but it does provide some added incentive to slow down around children in crosswalks.”
The bill now moves to the House.
Coeur d’Alene
Tondee announces re-election bid
Kootenai County Commissioner Todd Tondee thinks two years in office was only enough to get him started.
The Big Cheese Pizza owner and former Post Falls city councilman says he wants a four-year term to push for a county administrator to handle day-to-day business while the three-member commission acts more like a board of directors. He also wants to finish the adoption of impact fees, fix jail crowding and start a recycling facility.
The Republican, elected in 2006, announced his re-election bid Tuesday.
So far he is vying against Post Falls Realtor Tim Herzog in the May Republican primary. Candidates can officially file for office between March 10 and March 21.
Nonini says he’ll run again for House
Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, announced Tuesday that he’ll run for a third term in the Idaho House of Representatives.
Nonini, who is chairman of the House Education Committee, is a financial consultant and former Kootenai County GOP chairman.
“I will continue to work for less intrusive government involvement in our lives,” Nonini said. “I will continue to work for lower taxes and fewer government provided programs, and I will also continue to advocate for other Republican Party platform positions.”
Nonini said Ron Nilson, CEO and owner of Ground Force Manufacturing, will be his campaign chairman.
Police say man fired gun at ex-wife
A Coeur d’Alene man is charged with attempted murder for firing a gun during a fight with his ex-wife, police said.
William D. Hill, 44, surrendered to Coeur d’Alene police shortly after the 8:47 p.m. incident Monday.
His 59-year-old ex-wife told police that Hill grabbed her face and pointed a gun at her head. She said she heard a “snap” but didn’t know at the time he had fired the gun.
Police said the bullet hit a wall inside the house, in the 1200 block of N. Ninth St. Hill lives in a shed behind the house. The woman told police the couple still have a relationship even though they are divorced.