Louisiana Parish Official: Red-light Cameras Help Prevent Crashes

Officials say ticket-generating cameras that photograph drivers cruising through red lights have helped make Jefferson Parish, La., roads safer in the past year.

Parish council Chairman John Young says the steady decline in citations means fewer people are running red lights and causing crashes. Officials say 20,308 citations were issued in October 2007, compared with about half as many – 9,536 – in October of this year.

But critics of the cameras placed at 11 intersections around the parish say that can’t be proven because accident data is not yet available.

Two Metairie lawyers and about 300 drivers are suing the parish. They say the cameras, which are maintained by a private company, are unconstitutional.

The cameras generated nearly 140,000 tickets and more than $11 million in fines from October 2007 to October 2008.

Information from: The Times-Picayune, www.timespicayune.com

Latest Comments

• February 7, 2009 at 7:46 am

  wudchuck says:

  well, i think you might out they can find out who is driving the vehicle. if they have a picture from the front, they have what is called facial recognition. they can easily i... read more
• February 5, 2009 at 6:06 am

  woodchuck says:

  Innocent until proven guilt? Not with red light cameras. No officer can confirm who was driving the registered owner's car, and citing the real driver is based on the honor sy... read more
• December 13, 2008 at 11:04 am

  wudchuck says:

  i don't think so! they are driving on public roads. afterall, if they can use cameras from various places to solve any crime, why not put them in obvious places to stop accide... read more