The use of civilian companies by municipalities to enforce speeding violations has now been outlawed. This is result of Senate Bill 302, which was authored by State Senator, Stewart Cathey Jr. of Lincoln Parish which passed the House of Representatives by a 92-0 vote and the Senate by a 37-0 margin in the last state legislative session. 

The reason for the bill by Cathey was it is believed that many small towns used civilian companies to enforce speeding as a revenue source instead of providing a safety initiative. 

“I am proud to report that Governor Jeff Landry has signed Senate Bill 302 placing significant restrictions on the speed camera industry that has been plaguing our rural communities,” Cathey was quoted as saying in a recent article by Wesley Harris that was posted in a recent edition of the Lincoln Parish Journal . “We were able to place limitations that will all but eliminate these vultures from our communities.”

Several other restriction components were part of the new law as well.

(1) Cameras and radars are to be operated only by POST-certified law enforcement officers.  The reasoning was that when trained officers stop violators there is the indirect benefit of locating wanted fugitives, stolen cars and drug shipments.

(2) Except in school zones, speed cameras cannot be set up within ½ mile of a speed limit change of ten miles an hour or greater.

(3) Mailed citations from a private company demanding payment of a fine is now prohibited. 

(4) If a speed or red light camera is set up it must be accompanied by a 4’x4′ yellow sign that reads “photo enforcement devices at use”.

(5) Vehicles using speed cameras must be marked as law enforcement vehicles; if the officer is outside the vehicle, a reflective vest must be worn.

(6) Unpaid citations are prohibited to be reported to credit bureaus. 

(7) Motorists who received a mailed citation can sign the back and mail it in to void it and waive the fine if they were not deemed to be driving the vehicle. 

(8) Cameras can only be used in school zones during school hours and only after a cooperative endeavor with the local school district is in place where revenues are shared between the district and the municipality. 

Note: Special thanks to the Lincoln Parish Journal for permission to use quotes and components of this article as originally published.