News Summary
The Louisiana Legislature has passed a law regulating speed cameras, allowing their use only in school zones to bolster child safety.
Louisiana – The Louisiana Legislature has officially passed Senate Bill 99 (SB 99), a new law that bans the use of speed cameras outside of designated school zones and red-light cameras, with specific exemptions for certain municipalities. The law aims to enhance safety in school zones while imposing regulations on how speed detection technology can be utilized in these areas.
Under SB 99, speed cameras will be permitted to operate exclusively within school zones, designed to improve driver compliance with speed limits and protect children. In addition, the city of Shreveport will continue to use speed cameras in school zones but will be required to adhere to new regulations. This includes the implementation of conspicuous painted road markings and adequate signage to warn drivers.
In compliance with the new law, at each entry point of a school zone, a critical 2-foot wide yellow stripe will need to be painted on the roadway with the phrase “Entering School Zone” displayed in 12-inch black lettering. Additionally, municipalities must ensure that signage indicating the presence of speed cameras is installed within 200 feet of school zones to notify drivers of the potential for monitoring.
Furthermore, the legislation stipulates that cities cannot refer unpaid speeding tickets to the state’s Office of Debt Recovery within the Department of Revenue, effectively eliminating financial repercussions for individuals who do not pay these citations.
Supporters of speed cameras assert that these devices are primarily intended to bolster public safety, as they enforce speed limits and minimize reckless driving behavior. Conversely, critics argue that these systems serve more as a source of revenue for local governments than as tools for promoting road safety. The debate surrounding the use of speed cameras has been particularly pronounced in small towns throughout Louisiana, where many municipalities face ongoing challenges with limited law enforcement personnel.
A noteworthy aspect of SB 99 is an amendment that exempts the city of Opelousas from the general ban on speed cameras. While the amendment does not explicitly name Opelousas, it targets specific population parameters that apply to the city, particularly those municipalities with populations between 15,000 and 16,000 located within parishes having fewer than 90,000 residents. This amendment passed in a close House vote of 47 to 46, and while the bill itself was approved with broader support — 72 votes in favor compared to 23 against — the exemption for Opelousas has sparked concerns about the possibility of future amendments creating similar exemptions for other cities.
Following its passage in the House, the Senate supported SB 99 with a vote of 30 to 8. The law is scheduled to go into effect on August 1, 2025, giving municipalities time to adjust their speed camera systems to align with the new regulations.
The legislation has elicited a range of responses from the community, with some citizens testifying for and against its various provisions during legislative hearings. Local government officials have emphasized the necessity of camera systems for ensuring public safety, as illustrated by Shreveport’s recent decision to extend its contract with Blue Line Solutions for the management of their speed camera program.
Senator Stewart Cathey, the author of the bill, has expressed concerns regarding the Opelousas exemption, indicating a fear that this could lead to other municipalities seeking similar allowances. The ongoing discussions and evaluations around SB 99 reflect broader conversations about traffic enforcement, public safety, and the role of technology in law enforcement across Louisiana.
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Additional Resources
- The Advocate
- KSLA News
- Shreveport Times
- KNOE
- Wikipedia: Traffic Enforcement Camera
- Google Search: Speed Cameras Louisiana
