HARTFORD, Conn. -– The Connecticut Consumer Protection Department on Wednesday, Feb. 20, ordered Acme Rent-A-Car to return all money it has collected in speeding fines charged to customers since Oct. 2000. The department ruled that Acme, a one-location car rental company in New Haven, violated the state’s Unfair Trade Practices Act with its policy of fining customers for speeding.

Acme routinely deducted $150 from a customer’s credit or debit card whenever a rental car exceeded 79 miles an hour, as indicated by the company’s GPS-based fleet management system. Acme has until May 20 to pay back the estimated $10,000 in fines the company has collected, said Consumer Protection Department Commissioner James Fleming.

Acme attorney Max Brunswick said the car rental company, owned by brothers Stephen and Paul Kozlowski, plans to appeal the decision.

The department’s ruling follows three hearings on the case, held Aug. 22, Sept. 5 and Oct. 10 of last year.

The matter was originally brought to the attention of the Consumer Protection Department when Acme customer James Turner filed a complaint.