A new fine schedule, which was signed by Gov. Bill Graves May 21 and went into effect last Sunday, expects to raise an additional $16 million for the state over the next 12 months. The Kansas Legislature hopes revenue from the traffic fines will help balance a tight budget.

HB2596 will nearly triple fines for many traffic violations. For example, the fine for improper passing of a school bus goes up from $100 to $300. Speeding 1-10 mph over the limit jumps from $10 to $30, 21-30 mph over goes to $90 and 31 mph empties your wallet to the tune of $180 and every mph over that will be another $15. Failure to yield to an emergency vehicle hikes from $60 to $180.

The new fine schedule applies to those tickets processed through the district court system. The fines will be distributed in the following ways: 92.34 percent would be credited to the State General Fund; 7.33 percent would go to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund and 1.33 percent to the Crime Victims Assistance Fund.