NEW ORLEANS, LA (March 12, 2008) - Today, The City of New Orleans Department of Public Works will host a comprehensive training session for commissioned law enforcement officers along with the Public Works Administration Hearing Center staff. They will learn how to review red light violations using the American Traffic Solutions camera detection systems, which are installed at nine intersections throughout the city.
Last December, the City began installation of 20 red-light cameras as a part of the traffic automated enforcement system that will provide officers with both still and video footage to help them enforce traffic violators.Still images will be captured and saved for speed detection. The law enforcement officers will review all alleged violations, relevant images and video to determine if a violation actually occurred.
American Traffic Solutions, Inc. (ATS) will train officers during the session using the necessary tools to review potential violations, and decide whether to dismiss or issue citations.Media personnel are invited to attend a portion of the training session At 10:30 a.m. Robert Mendoza, Director of Public Works, and a representative from ATS will be available to answer questionsand explain the citation process.
"City personnel will review every potential violation to be sure that the vehicles in question did in fact enter the intersection after the signal turned red.No tickets will be issued for vehicles entering the intersection on a yellow signal," said Mendoza.
However, the red-light system which is employed In Jefferson Parish has been criticized as being incorrect, faulty and causing drivers to be over-hesitant.Also, the red lights in New Orleans have been in many respects non-functional since Katrina.
The computer enforcement tool used to issue the citations allows the officer to review video of the vehicle running the red-light, view a picture of the light changing to red before the vehicle enters the intersection, and after entering the intersection.If the officer judges that the vehicle did run the red-light, the officer will then verify that the license plate matches the vehicle, and that the information is listed correctly on the screen before issuing the citation.
Uhhh,,, Professor, civil? Criminal? Nahhhh,,,, but it could be both and neither..... What it really is can be closely akin to a 'Wallet Violation', and that is all it is intended to be. I can see sometime in the future where a law could be passed that a miniature 'camera' could be surgically implanted between the eyes of every citizen of the United States so that everyone’s 'focus' can be strictly monitored, and fines levied for thinking that is outside of the accepted box they are supposed to be restricted to. And according to many, money resembles ‘freedom’……. Say bye bye to a percentage of your paycheck each month because you didn’t walk a narrow line on the razor blade edge that ‘ahemmmmm’ certain segments of society think they have the right to not only expect, but to demand……. Written by Reading the writting on the wall..................
on 3/13/2008
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My question is, are these going to still be civil violations, or criminal ones? According to a recent news story, they (I can't remember if it was Orleans or Jefferson, or both) are issuing tickets based upon a civil matter. What this means is, if you refuse to pay, they would have to file suit against you in civil court. They would NOT be able to use the criminal courts or be able to issue citations. Also, these "violations" would not go on your driving record. In other words, you'd just pay the money - 85% of which goes to the camera manufacturer! Written by Professor
on 3/12/2008
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Yeah, that's what we need in a free society.... More surveillances…….. More cameras……….. More people sitting around on the taxpayers dime trying to figure out how to pull even more money out of the taxpayers wallets………….. And all this under the auspices of ‘law’………… So much for due diligence I guess……….. Written by Smack back
on 3/12/2008
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