A federal class action lawsuit aims to reimburse drivers who have been ticketed by Jefferson Parish red light cameras. The lawyers who filed the suit say they want the cameras removed unless new guidelines are in place to police the electronic police officers. In Lafayette, a growing group of people is also trying to have red light cams removed from their community.
Redflex is the Australian company that provides the cameras free of charge. It also gets a huge chunk of the ticket revenue, based on a sliding scale. Redflex workers at the company's U.S. headquarters in Scottsdale, AZ, are able to access the DMV records of drivers. Redflex insists all its employees must pass a background check before being hired.
In Jefferson Parish, monthly statistics suggest drivers are changing their habits (if not their routes). The number of red light citations is dropping, and councilman John Young says accidents are less frequent.
State law dictates what must happen for traffic citations under criminal law. Jefferson Parish is avoiding those requirements by categorizing red light citations as civil offenses.
Comments (4)
Redflex insists on background checks?? Wonder if they skipped Lafayette Redflex employee Tracie L. Vice. She is currently locked up for a current OWI violation and also a probationary violation. Check SafeSpeedLafayette.com for updates, "Its time for Louisiana to set the example not being made a example!!"
Thanks
BADGER
Posted by Badger | January 31, 2008 10:50 PM
Posted on January 31, 2008 22:50
It seems that REDFLEX is is being handed GOVERNMENTAL authority on a silver platter! Why is it that Redflex is given access to otherwise private information and INSTRUCTING municipalities on what LEGISLATION to introduce and pass? Are they the NEW LOBBYISTS??? Furthermore, does it seem to you that REDFLEX is putting together a LARGE PUZZLE? If you think about it, REDFLEX is practically building a DATABASE of otherwise private DMV and other information ALL OVER THE COUNTRY...one municipality at a time. With the holes in their procedures discovered as of late, one may wonder if there is a LARGER SCENARIO here. THINK ABOUT IT!
Posted by Unbelievable | February 1, 2008 9:36 AM
Posted on February 1, 2008 09:36
There are certainly issues with Redflex obtaining ticket revenue. Further, there are instances where drivers end up running a red light because they are left in the middle of the intersection when the car in front suddenly stops. These drivers have no choice but to run the red light if they are in the middle of the intersection. This has happened to me, and I am waiting for my ticket. However, I believe the good outweighs the bad if more people are making a conscious effort not to run red lights. I am willing to to accept the unfair situations if it means decreased traffic accidents and injuries.
Posted by st | February 4, 2008 11:13 AM
Posted on February 4, 2008 11:13
It seems odd to me that the governing bodies would hire an outside agency to do it's job. Government is always trying to grab more of our rights away and create bigger bureaucracies. Have they finally bitten off more than they can chew or, are they just getting ready to take over another one of our freedoms while we are not looking?
Posted by Jery L. Moody | February 4, 2008 9:15 PM
Posted on February 4, 2008 21:15