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NEW ORLEANS —
The city of New Orleans will not issue any speeding tickets through cameras starting Friday due to a new state law.
This comes following a WDSU investigation that highlighted the city was possibly in violation of a state law by even having the cameras on.
As WDSU first reported last November, a state law passed in 2024 says Mayor LaToya Cantrell's administration must have a cooperative endeavor agreement in place with local school systems on how the money collected from school zone cameras will be divided before they could be turned on.
The city issued a statement Thursday saying that until a CEA is finalized and adjustments to school zones are made, no tickets will be issued from any speed camera across the city, whether it's in a school zone or not.
According to the city, school zone cameras were deactivated at the end of the school year. However, a WDSU investigation revealed that school zone cameras were up and running from the fall of 2024 until the end of the school year, and were collecting money that is now in escrow.
Over $2 million has been collected so far, according to sources.
The city issued a statement saying red light speeding cameras will remain active and fully operational.
The city also said flashing beacons on school zone signs are not connected to the cameras, and are maintained by the Department of Public Works.
City officials encourage residents to drive safely in school zones at all times.
For those who were ticketed last year and paid fines, one state lawmaker is advocating for money to be reimbursed. To date, no one has been reimbursed.
Should the city activate a camera without a CEA in place, the city could be charged with malfeasance by local or state prosecutors.
Red light cameras will remain on and school zone cameras should already be off for summer break, but . . .
Source and video: https://www.wdsu.com/article/new-orleans-school-zone-cameras...
~~~~~~~~~~~
NEW ORLEANS —
The city of New Orleans will not issue any speeding tickets through cameras starting Friday due to a new state law.
This comes following a WDSU investigation that highlighted the city was possibly in violation of a state law by even having the cameras on.
As WDSU first reported last November, a state law passed in 2024 says Mayor LaToya Cantrell's administration must have a cooperative endeavor agreement in place with local school systems on how the money collected from school zone cameras will be divided before they could be turned on.
The city issued a statement Thursday saying that until a CEA is finalized and adjustments to school zones are made, no tickets will be issued from any speed camera across the city, whether it's in a school zone or not.
According to the city, school zone cameras were deactivated at the end of the school year. However, a WDSU investigation revealed that school zone cameras were up and running from the fall of 2024 until the end of the school year, and were collecting money that is now in escrow.
Over $2 million has been collected so far, according to sources.
The city issued a statement saying red light speeding cameras will remain active and fully operational.
The city also said flashing beacons on school zone signs are not connected to the cameras, and are maintained by the Department of Public Works.
City officials encourage residents to drive safely in school zones at all times.
For those who were ticketed last year and paid fines, one state lawmaker is advocating for money to be reimbursed. To date, no one has been reimbursed.
Should the city activate a camera without a CEA in place, the city could be charged with malfeasance by local or state prosecutors.