Warning Signs Will Soon Be Required To Be Posted Ahead Of Red Light Cameras

A bill to require municipalities to post warning signs 500 feet ahead of red light cameras has just received final legislative passage. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says red light cameras should be about safety, not collecting revenues.

“If those that push for red light cameras truly want public safety, then they would be fine with posting signs and giving people an opportunity to be noticed that in fact there is a red light camera coming up,” Carter said.

Carter says the bill is also about giving people who do run red lights due process.

“If a sign is not posted, then the motorist has the opportunity to challenge that and go to court and then the ticket is inadmissible and cannot be collected,” Carter said.

Carter says if someone is truly for public safety, they would support the proposed law, but if they want to trick people into paying fines, they would hate the bill. Carter says public safety should trump revenue enhancement.

“At the end of the day, we want to prevent people from running red lights period for public safety. We don’t want to trick them and just continue to collect fines,” Carter said.

The measure now heads to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.