GT Sheriff "Dismisses" Construction Zone Tickets

May 7, 2015

If you were one of the drivers who recently received a citation in the construction zone on U.S. 31 North in the area of the Three Mile and Four Mile intersections, you can disregard that ticket.

The Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office is requesting that those citations given between Thurs., Apr. 30 and Sat., May 2, for "Avoiding Traffic Control" be dismissed.

This action stems from an incentive that Sheriff Tom Bensley issued to officers that rewarded them with a paid day off if they wrote at least five tickets for this citation for drivers in the construction zone. At least 35 were reportedly issued by officers.

The ticket "dismissal" comes after Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Bob Cooney found the ticketing incentive to potentially be a violation of state law.

For drivers who have already paid the violation fee, a refund will be forthcoming and the offense will be removed from driving records.

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