Lafayette's red light cameras gone permanently

Lafayette's red light traffic cameras won't be returning, but they may be replaced with traffic cameras in select school zones.

The traffic cameras in Lafayette were unplugged in June, when the city's contract with Redflex expired. At the time, Mayor-President Joel Robideaux said his administration was negotiating with ATS to take over the program.

But Robideaux said Tuesday the cameras at traffic signals and speed vans will not be coming back.

Instead, he is negotiating with American Traffic Solutions and Redflex to provide traffic cameras in some school zones. When a contractor is selected, the City-Parish Council will be asked to approve the contract, Robideaux said. That process will take at least two months.

A resolution approved Tuesday by the council endorses the school zone camera idea and the administration's intention to collect fees and fines through the court system when necessary.

Fines would match those in existence now for speeding in a school zone and range from $25 to $300.

"It’s going to generate money. Is something wrong with that?" Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux said. "It’s going have some safety aspects to it and it’s going to generate some revenue" that will be put back into the police department.