A “super speeder” law taking effect Jan. 1 isn’t going to change how local police officers do their jobs, but could affect the wallets of drivers going at excessive speeds through Polk County.

“It’s not a law that will be broken in the city a great deal, but from my experience the super speeder law is a good law,” said Rockmart Police Chief Keith Sorrells.

The new law allows for an additional $200 fee on top of a speeding fine for those going more than 85 miles per hour an Georgia road and more than 75 miles per hour on two-lane roads.

“I don’t plan on instructing the guys to do anything different than what they’re doing,” said Cedartown Assistant Police Chief Jamie Newsome.

“If they encounter a speeder, he will have to deal with the repercussions from the new law, but we not going to aggressively seek out speeders. We’re not going to sit and wait along the highway for speeders.”

Sorrells said Rockmart police encountered one such “super speeder” earlier this week.

“One of our guys got a guy running 91 in a 55 on 278 near Industrial Drive near the recreational complex,” he said, adding that the law is meant to change dangerous driving habits.

“When you add the $200 onto it, in whatever jurisdiction that is, it will get people’s attention.”

Sorrells said some speeders are willing to pay a speeding fine to get where they want to go faster, but he thinks getting caught under the new law one time will cure the lead foot.

“I think that’s the kind of thing that would get the word around quickly,” he said.

Failure to pay the additional fee results in an additional $50.00 fee and the suspension of the offender’s driving privileges and license, according to the state’s website.

According to the law listed on the state’s website, the legislation will also address habitual violators who lose their license because of dangerous driving behaviors, especially those convicted of DUI or drug use.

The fee could be as high as $410 for repeat offenders, according to the law.

Sorrells said 350 people on average are killed in Georgia every year in speed related accidents. He said a positive feature of the new law is the additional fee will help pay for trauma centers.

He said that is only fitting.

“The money will be put to good use. The people driving at those speeds are the ones causing these injuries,” Sorrells said.