Starting today the fines for speeding in Saskatchewan are set to rise. The increases were announced earlier this year.

The base amount for a speeding ticket increased by $30, and the fine per kilometre over the limit doubled. This could lead to some costly tickets for those who have a heavy foot, in particular when passing emergency vehicles or travelling through construction zones or school zones.

"The province is committed to ensuring our roads are safe for those travelling on them. We've taken a clear focus on traffic safety over the last while, including the addition of the Combined Traffic Services Unit. In addition to that, this year we are looking to increase the base amount on all speeding fines by $30, and then also doubling the amount per kilometer if someone is speeding," stated Ministry of Justice Spokesperson Drew Wilby.

"We took a look across other jurisdictions, what we've done in the province over the last while as well. We know the general speeding fines in the province haven't increased since 1993, in terms of that $30 move that we're making, and so it was time to look at it. We did a full analysis, and this is what we've come up with."

Those who are caught over the speed limit on other roadways will also see a steep increase. The ticket for exceeding the limit by 20 kilometres an hour will go up to $190. It was $130 before the increases took effect. Going 31 kilometres over the limit will see a ticket issued for $284.

Those who go 36 kilometres an hour or more over the limit will also see a hefty ticket. Wiebe explained those tickets will start at $310. They can quickly approach upwards of $400 as well.

One area of concern which has come up numerous times is speeding when passing emergency vehicles. The speed limit when passing an emergency vehicle or tow truck is 60 kilometres an hour, no matter which lane or side of the highway the emergency vehicle is on. The fines for going faster than 60 will cost quite a bit.

The fines for speeding in construction zones are also increasing. They start at $360 for going just 10 km over the limit.

"The goal out of this is traffic safety and making sure that Saskatchewan's citizens aren't getting injured or killed on Saskatchewan roadways or highways. On the provincial court fee side of things, that's just to make sure that we're recouping the costs associated with the services that we're delivering," Wilby added.

On top of the financial penalties for speeding, there are numerous additional penalties from SGI, the Crown insurance company. There is the possibility of losing points under the Safe Driver Recognition Penalty. This can have a negative impact when renewing your license, through increased amounts needing to be paid, or losing discounts earned through years of safe driving.