ARC Zone in St. Louis

Published on: October 8, 2012

Why Is An ARC Zone Ticket More Severe Than A Regular St. Louis Traffic Ticket?

By Eder Herrera

The reason why an ARC Zone traffic ticket is considered to be more severe than a standard infraction of the law is because the city has determined that along this particular stretch of highway, there is a statistically higher rate of fatal accidents.

ARC stands for “Accident Reduction Corridor.” It is a mechanism put in place by the city of St. Louis (and participating municipalities) to try and reduce the high number of traffic accidents that occur annually along I-70 interstate that result in fatalities. From roughly St. Ann to the I-170 and I-70 intersection, there is a much stricter enforcement of the speed limit.

But getting pulled over in the ARC zone will normally entail a police officer who was initially parked on the side of the highway (with three or four squad cars behind it waiting their turn) pulling out behind you immediately, flashing his lights, and issuing the citation. This description is of course the normal way in which an officer of the law makes a regular stop, but the ticket he/she will give you as a result is far more expensive.

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Published on: September 16, 2012

Why Are The Fines For An ARC Zone Ticket Higher Than Other St. Louis Traffic Tickets?

By Eder Herrera

The fines for ARC Zone tickets are higher because the cities involved in that program are attempting to reduce traffic fatalities over a stretch of I-70 that have seen much rates than other parts of St. Louis. The idea is that if the fines are higher when you get pulled over in this corridor of the interstate, then you will be less likely to speed. If you are less likely to speed, then there should be less traffic fatalities.

To begin with, ARC stands for “Accident Reduction Corridor.” It is a plan devised by the cities that participate in the program (St. Ann, Berkeley, Normandy, Pine Lawn, etc) to reduce traffic fatalities. If you receive a St. Louis speeding ticket in this zone, then the fines will be a lot higher. However, there is a better way to handle the ticket than simply paying the fine.

One common way for people to take care of a traffic ticket is to simply sign the back of the citation itself, and mail in the associated fine. But by doing so, you are pleading guilty to the charges listed on the citation (like speeding, or illegal lane change, or careless driving, or whatever). This in turn allows the state of Missouri to assess points to your permanent driving record. “Points” are like little red flags that make you look as if you are a bad driver. As you accumulate points, your automobile insurance provider will increase your monthly rates. And if you receive enough points over a compressed period of time, you could lose your driver’s license (for instance, if you get eighteen (18) points within an eighteen month period, the state will suspend your license for a full year).

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Published on: February 13, 2012

What Happens If I Get A Speeding Ticket In The ARC Zone?

By Eder Herrera

Although it has a fancy name, the ticket still works the same way as a regular ticket. The only difference is that the fine is usually a lot higher than a traffic ticket you might get elsewhere in the city. But the strategy remains the same: contacting an experienced lawyer to handle the ticket so that it does not do too much damage should be your goal.

“ARC” stands for Accident Reduction Corridor. It is a stretch of highway on I-70 through St. Louis (covering the municipalities of St. Ann, Berkeley, Cool Valley, Edmundson, Normandy, Northwoods, Woodson Terrace, and Pine Lawn). This section of highway has proven statistically to be an area in which a higher number of accidents have occurred. The participating cities have established this zone in an attempt to reduce the number of vehicular accidents.

So if you are pulled over in the ARC Zone, and you received a citation for speeding, the officer is still going to give you a ticket that looks exactly like any other traffic ticket. But because the infraction occurred in the zone, the fine will be higher. An ARC ticket (like any other ticket) is a legal document that can greatly impact your automobile insurance. Each time you get a ticket, a certain number of points are assessed. These points are put on your driving record. As points build up over time, your insurance rates go up. And if enough points are assessed over a short period of time, you could possibly lose your license to drive.

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