Advertisement Lawsuit claims New Orleans traffic cameras illegal, suing to stop program and reclaim money Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The lawfulness of the city of New Orleans' traffic light cameras is being challenged, and some people want their money back. Fines from those tickets have generated millions of dollars for the city, but a lawsuit claims the entire process violates the city charter and the state constitution.The city has issued 1,467,247 citations since the traffic safety camera program started in 2008. That has generated $106,568,26 in revenue which goes directly to the city's general fund.Currently, there are traffic safety cameras at 66 locations across New Orleans. Many are in school zones and high traffic intersections. The last traffic safety cameras was installed in spring 2012."You can just be parked at the intersection, and if you pass over the white line it'll flash you no matter what," said Angellica Bozant.Bozant said she has gotten at least four red light tickets all over the city, and with potential late fees and boot removal fees if they go unpaid, the fees really add up."I kind of pay the ticket off just so I don't have to deal with any court fees, and then it's extremely hard for me to get off from work and try to appeal it and then you're looking at paying over $500 in fees," Bozant said.She and six other people are taking on the city of New Orleans, Mayor Mitch Landrieu, the City Council and the company that installed traffic cameras to shut down the entire system and get their money back."They're basically being attacked by a system that was illegally implemented, and so that's who we are going after the city for," said attorney Byron Forrest.Forrest said the Louisiana Constitution and the New Orleans Home Rule Charter give the traffic court the power to resolve traffic matters, but the city's automated traffic enforcement system takes away the courts authority."A police officer who saw you or I commit the same crime of running a red light has the option to pull you over. If he pulls you over, it's a traffic ticket, you would go to a traffic court and a judge would determine whether or not you're paying the fine," Forrest said.However, Forrest said the safety camera tickets give the city the power to automatically levy a fine, which a person could then appeal to the traffic court, but he said state law would have to be rewritten to allow a traffic court to hear appeals."At the end of the day we want the program to stop," Forrest said.Forrest said his law firm will ask a judge for an injunction against the city and that funds still be collected from the program be put in an account so the city can not spend the money until the lawsuit is settled.The city would not comment on the litigation, but Press Secretary Hayne Rainey said, "The City is committed to making our streets safer for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians, especially children. The traffic safety camera program began in 2008 and is an effective tool that is changing driver behavior and reducing speeding in neighborhoods and school zones across the city."The first hearing on this lawsuit will be April 15th. Depending on the outcome, attorneys would notify people who have gotten one of the tickets so they can get their piece of the pie.