NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennesseans could be charged up to $70 more for traffic tickets under a new state law that takes effect next month that is a funding initiative for crime lab services for law enforcement agencies.

The law that takes effect July 1 adds $13.75 on each traffic violation and motorists can be cited for as many as five violations on a single ticket.

The extra fee was designed to help offset the costs of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's crime lab services provided to local law enforcement agencies.

Kristin Helm, a spokeswoman for the agency, told The Tennessean that the new traffic violation fee will cover about half of TBI's $4 million budget shortfall.

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