The Senate Transportation Committee approves a bill that would double the fine for a speeding ticket on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, which means the penalty would be 350-dollars. Senate President Page Cortez says speeding is a major issue on the bridge that connects Lafayette and Baton Rouge.
“I put my cruise on 60 mph and I’m telling you, I feel like they are about to ram into me, from the backside and they are cutting in front of me, I’m trying to stay in the right lane, but they are passing me like I”m standing still,” said Cortez.
The legislation would also double the fine for truckers who use the left lane to travel, instead of using it as a passing lane.
The measure also gives the state the ability to issue speeding tickets with the use of cameras. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson.
“The one thing that would have the biggest effect I believe, is having a sign that says speed controlled by cameras because when you see those signs, it slows you down,” said Wilson.
The proposal also calls for more signage, informing motorists of the speed limit and limited use of the left-hand lane by truckers. Cortez says driver behavior needs to change wrecks, injuries, and deaths on the bridge have more than doubled during the past decade.
“The cameras are our friends, they are not enemies, if you don’t want to get a citation just go the speed limit and stay in the correct lane, ” said Cortez.
Under the proposed law, drivers would receive a couple of warnings before they are issued a speeding ticket.
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