Alan Seabaugh, a state senator and attorney from Shreveport, (R-District 31) joined WWL's Newell Normand to talk about his bill that aims to get rid of speed trap cameras, explaining that there's a myriad of problems with them.
"I've had an overwhelming response from individuals," Seabaugh said, adding that communities that are making money without any overhead want to keep them, but 90% of drivers he hears from want them eliminated.
Among the problems, there's no way to tell who was driving the car, Seabaugh said, the cameras aren't calibrated like police tools are, and the money goes wherever the municipality wants it to go instead of to places like CrimeStoppers.
"I'm a freedom loving guy, I don't like the guilty until proven innocent aspect," Seabaugh said. Normand added he doesn't think they're effective.
Nothing makes people slow down like a patrol car with a body in it.
The cameras generate $23.8 million a year, Normand said. "And there are very little restrictions on the use of them," Seabaugh said.
He added that he doesn't have the votes to get his bill out of committee currently. The legislative session end no later than 6 p.m. on Monday, June 3.