DRIVERS will no longer receive speeding tickets from cameras, as a new ‘zoning’ law takes effect citywide from August 1.
The change affects drivers across the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, just as students return to school.
The pause includes both cameras within school zones and those positioned outside of them[/caption]
Officials stress that the move isn’t an invitation to speed[/caption]
City officials say camera-based speed enforcement will no longer apply anywhere until further notice.
“This change is due to a new state law that restricts automated speed enforcement to school zones that meet strict compliance requirements and are governed by a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA),” City officials explained.
“As of now, those requirements have not been finalized, and physical adjustments to school zones are still needed.”
The pause includes both cameras within school zones and those positioned outside of them.
Cameras near schools had already been switched off before the end of the last academic year, and now all others have followed suit as of August 1.
However, it’s important to note that not all enforcement technology is being shelved.
Red-light cameras will remain in place and active.
Drivers caught running a red light will still face citations as usual.
Questions have also been raised about the flashing beacons often seen in school zones.
These lights, which warn drivers to slow down during school hours, are maintained by the Department of Public Works (DPW) and operate separately from the camera system.
Some of the beacons are already working, while others are scheduled for upgrades.
The DPW has secured funding to replace and programme them in line with the school calendar.
But even with the beacons flashing, no speeding tickets will be handed out until the entire zone is fully compliant with the new legal standards.
And officials have stressed that the move isn’t an invitation to speed.
While the cameras are paused, the rules of the road remain the same, and police officers can still issue tickets manually.
The city has reminded drivers that speeding significantly raises the risk of serious injury or death, especially for schoolchildren and pedestrians crossing busy roads.
Residents wanting updates or clarity on the new enforcement rules or beacon functionality are encouraged to contact DPW at (504) 658-8000 or visit nola.gov.
How to fight a speeding ticket
According to a legally reviewed post, there are five effective strategies to fighting a speeding ticket if it was wrongfully issued.
- If pulled over and issued a ticket, drivers can argue or dispute a driver’s personal opinion. When issuing a speeding ticket, an officer is required to write their opinion and come to an “objective” conclusion. If the ticket was written based on that judgment, it can be contested. An example would be if you were going 75 mph in a 65 mph zone because others were traveling at the same speed, you could argue that it would be more dangerous to travel at 65 mph.
- You can dispute the officer’s presentation of evidence. If you were ticketed for something like running a stop sign or making an illegal u-turn, you can’t contest that if an officer saw you, but you can call things into court like eyewitnesses, diagrams, or photos.
- Argue that the ticket was issued by a “mistake of fact.” This is tricky, but a “mistake of fact” is a mistake made by a driver about a situation that was beyond their control, or if a driver legitimately did not know they were violating the law. For example, you were driving in two lanes because the lane markers were so worn down that you could not see them.
- You could say circumstances justified your driving. You could say you were speeding to pass a possibly drunk driver, or avoiding an accident by rapidly changing lanes. However, the argument won’t work if there’s proof you continued to speed after passing.
- Similar to the above, it could be argued that speeding was necessary to avoid harm. The key is to argue that if you weren’t speeding, you or someone else could have been harmed.
- Consult a traffic attorney, if all else fails. Many have free consultations to decide whether or not there’s a case.
Source: FindLaw
Red-light cameras will remain in place and active[/caption]
