Bills targeting traffic cameras see varying success in Louisiana legislature

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Louisiana lawmakers have traffic cameras in their sights this session, filing several bills to change how — and if — the process should work.

The bills have had different levels of success.

They could have a significant impact on New Orleans’ drivers and government. The city’s traffic camera system generates more than $20 million per year in general fund revenue.

A Fox 8 investigation found the city is struggling to collect $135 million worth of uncollected tickets going back more than a decade.

Senate Bill 21, filed by Sen. Alan Seabaugh (R-Many), would take the most aggressive approach against traffic cameras, but has seen the least success. It would make the use of traffic cameras “strictly prohibited,” effectively bringing an end to all municipal or parish traffic camera programs in the state, along with the government revenue they produce.

In March, the bill was deferred in a Transportation, Highways & Public Works Committee meeting. It has remained stalled there since.

Chair Pat Connick (R-Marrero) told Fox 8 that Seabaugh has not asked for the bill to be heard, signaling it’s likely dead.

In the meeting, opponents of the bill said the systems improve safety and allow understaffed police departments to move resources elsewhere.

Sen. Heather Cloud (R-Turkey Creek) raised concerns about the spread of traffic camera systems in the state.

“The more that this happens, and I know that they’re needed in some places and not unwilling to embrace that, but we’re losing touch points to see other criminal activity that’s associated with speeding violations, like driving under intoxication, human trafficking,” she said.

Cloud filed Senate Bill 360, but also deferred it to the meeting. It’s followed a similar path as Seabaugh’s bill and Connick indicated it’s also likely dead. It would prohibit traffic camera systems from issuing tickets through license plates, a system New Orleans currently uses.

“The vehicle isn’t the one that’s speeding. It’s the person that’s behind the wheel,” she said.

That logic might see more success in Rep. Daryl Deshotel (R-Marksville)’s House Bill 652.

It requires traffic camera systems to get footage of the driver to issue tickets. It also prohibits local governments from issuing or collecting on tickets if an image of the driver is not obtained.

“A lot times, you have families that may share vehicles. You have neighbors that borrow vehicles. You have all sorts of situations where people are in vehicles that they do not own,” he said in an April committee meeting.

The bill creates guardrails for administrative challenges, creates time limits for camera use and creates requirements for how any revenue generated by the cameras can be spent.

The bill has passed out of the house and is working through the senate.

Sen. Stewart Cathey (R-Monroe) filed a bill with similar guardrails which is moving through the house.

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