A bill to largely ban speed cameras across the state – well, most of it, at least – is on Gov. Landry’s desk.
Sen. Stewart Cathey (R-Monroe) says he’s happy that he got Senate Bill 99 across the finish line.
“As my dear friend in the House Representative Chuck Owen said, this is taxation by citation,” says Cathey. “And so this practice will be outlawed here in the state of Louisiana.”
There have been efforts in the past to ban speed cameras in the state.
This version of the legislation, however, allows speed cameras to operate in school zones. Cathey says that’s a reasonable compromise.
“Even some of the most ardent supporters of the speed camera ban have said, ‘Hey, look, I am okay with leaving them in school zones while the school zones are operational,'” Cathey says.
However, Cathey’s bill was thrown a curveball as the House passed by one vote an amendment that exempts Opelousas from this ban.
While the amendment does not mention Opelousas by name, it was written in a way that would only apply to that city:
“Exclude a governing authority of a municipality with a population of less than 16,000 and more than 15,000, within a parish with a population of less than 90,000 and more than 70,000 according to the latest decennial census.”
Opelousas’ population, according to the 2020 census, was 15,390.
Opelousas officials say the city does not have the resources within its police department for officers to run radar the traditional way.
Cathey says it’s a dangerous slippery slope.
“I would be certainly opposed to adding that exemption to anyone else,” says Cathey. “I’m sure there’ll be clean-up legislation in the future, and I will be working to remove Opelousas from this scam that’s going on across our state.”
But Cathey says that one exception does not take away from his overall success with the bill.
“At the end of the day, I got 99% of what I wanted and will deal with Opelousas later,” Cathey says. “It’s been a long hard fight, but certainly one that’s been worth it.”
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