Sunset, a city of only about 5,000 people in Davis County, generated the highest percentage, with $502,013 of its $3,359,325 general fund revenue in 2024 stemming from traffic fines. That’s about 15% of its annual general revenue.

According to the auditor’s office, here are the 10 Utah cities and counties that generate the highest percentage of revenue from traffic fines:

• Sunset (pop. 5,400): $502,013 out of $3,359,325, or 14.9%
• Mantua (pop. 1,300): $206,820 out of $1,596,394, or 13%
• Wellsville (pop. 4,100): $335,888 out of $2,779,116, or 12.1%
• Orderville (pop. 570): $48,240 out of $464,330, or 10.4%
• Willard (pop. 2,200): $230,269 out of $2,282,692, or 10.1%
• Monticello (pop. 1,700): $278,995 out of $2,779,751, or 10%
• Vernal (pop. 10,500): $651,998 out of $6,746,045, or 9.7%
• Uintah (pop. 1,400): $39,358 out of $738,155, or 5.5%
• Box Elder County (64,100): $783,374 out of $14,346,450, or 4.9%
• Holladay (pop. 30,200): $2,142,732 out of $23,179,672, or 3.2%

The state legislature caps the amount of revenue cities can collect from such fines in a year. Anything above 25% of annual revenue must be handed over to the Utah Department of Transportation, which would then redistribute it around the state to improve class B and C roads, which are locally maintained. No other punitive action would be taken against the city, or county.

The 25% threshold was set by the Utah Legislature in 2021 through a bill sponsored by Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan. SB75 was intended to “make sure police officers don’t turn into revenue agents,” said Fillmore at the time, referring to a widely publicized instance in Mantua, where the city leaders used traffic tickets to bring more money to the city. According to reporting from FOX13 in 2021, the Mantua Police chief believes he was fired over his opposition to the city’s policy.

Fillmore’s bill is similar to attempts by the Legislature to rein in money and resources taken by law enforcement, so seizures of property used in crimes didn’t become a revenue stream for specific municipalities.

“It’s to make sure that municipalities are focused on the distribution of justice and making sure people are doing what they’re supposed to, and not providing any kind of incentive for a municipality to use it as a revenue source to fund other things in the city,” said Seth Oveson, Local Government Manager for the Office of the Utah State Auditor.

SB75 tasked the auditor’s office with reviewing whether municipalities are compliant.

“Our local government division is diligent in its review of all levels of local governments — towns, cities, counties, school and special districts — to ensure statutory compliance. This report ensures all municipalities are complying, and provides them and the legislature with accurate information as they plan and set policies,” said Auditor Tina Cannon in a statement last week.

The general fund is generated from various operations or taxes in a city and town, like property taxes, sales tax, business license fees and court fees.

If a Utah Highway Patrol trooper writes a ticket that results in a fine in a city, the money still goes towards the city. If the fine is collected in a municipality that doesn’t have a justice court, the money goes to the county instead, which is also required to stay under the 25% cap.

Utah News Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.