Louisiana's House Transportation Committee approved a Senate bill that is attempting to prevent speed cameras that issue tickets from operating outside of school zones.
“I put a post up that I’m going to ban speed cameras. I got, like, 2000 shares. That’s how much people want to see this illegal act go away,” Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey said.
The Louisiana Sheriffs Association supports Cathey’s bill, but there are many police departments who oppose the legislation. They say cameras that issue speeding tickets help with highway safety, but Cathey argues manpower improves public safety.
“Do you think that a drug dealer or someone trafficking little children cares about getting a ticket in the mail? Or as Representative (Rodney Wayne) Schamerhorn said earlier, the blue lights behind them pulling them over?” Cathey asked.
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux testified against the bill. Arceneaux says speed cameras in school zones have helped to reduce speeding in front of schools and the city plans to install speed cameras outside of school zones.
“This has become a very effective means of changing people’s behavior. And we would like the local option to be able to proceed and deal with our constituents on a local level,” Arceneaux said.
Cathey’s bill, which has already passed the Senate, would result in local officials being charged with malfeasance if speed cameras were used outside of school zones.
Shreveport’s Chief Administrative Officer Tom Dark says the city does not have the physical ability to send officers to run radar. He says the speed camera has shown it’s an effective tool to get motorists to drive at the speed limit.
“We see the effect of that every day. We see the people slowing down. We actually get about 50% less revenue than we got the first year because people are, in fact, paying attention,” Dark said.
Cathey’s bill heads to the House floor for more debate. If it passes the lower chamber, it will need to go back to the Senate for approval of House amendments.
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