A ‘MONEY grab’ speed camera program has dished out an eye-popping $600,000 worth of fines in just days.
A slew of motorists in West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, were hit with $150 tickets over a two-week period.
Now-former Ward 2 constable Ron Tetzel has resigned from his position[/caption]
The police constable who was behind the speed enforcement plot near a local school has since resigned from his position.
Now-former Ward 2 constable Ron Tetzel spearheaded the program which began in October 2024.
Tetzel admitted that it was intended just to raise evidence for his organization in his own resignation letter.
The former constable ordered people with a radar gun-based camera system to take positions and seek out alleged speeders as they zoomed past the school.
By the time he was found out, he issued over 4000 citations to drivers, each one valued at $150 – totalling around $600,000 in revenue
The total sum was intended to be split between the constable’s office, the speed camera company, and the school district, despite not having the authority to slap drivers with the fines.
Tetzel failed to reach a cooperative endeavor agreement with the school board as required by law, according to WBRZ.
The following month, local police took to Facebook to urge citizens to refrain from paying the fines.
On one of the statements published, Louisiana state senator, Caleb Kleinpeter responded: “I just got off of the phone with Attorney General Murrill who has told me to inform all DO NOT PAY this civil violation.
“If you did we are working to see how you can be reimbursed.”
“I am a huge supporter of law enforcement, but this is nothing but a money grab.”
In his resignation letter, Tetzel admitted: “In an effort to evolve this office and position from a half-baked ‘Mayberry’ operation into a functioning service entity that actually serves the community, the Ward 2 Justice of the Peace and I engaged with multiple entities… to conduct traffic photo enforcement in an unincorporated school zone within the parish.”
“I never expected or intended to get rich doing this service, but I equally did not expect to have to dedicate so many personal resources to my own safety or ability to do this job.”
‘NANNY STATE’
It comes after new speed cameras near another major town generated $21,000 in fines from speeding tickets, officials report.
Of the tickets generated, some 20% are said to be repeat offenders – while fines have been picked up equally between residents and out-of-town drivers.
Speaking to CT Insider, local selectman Jim Brinton said: “It means that people’s concerns have been validated – speeding is a huge, huge problem.”
Furthermore, warning signs for the cameras are positioned on the roads before each camera – along with speed limit warnings – suggesting the issue isn’t around driver awareness.
Brinton added: “I think people should be aware because it’s been a two-year process.”
The approval to install speed cameras on three roads in the town was issued in December, with towns required under state law to submit plans for approval before they can begin using red light or speed cameras to enforce traffic laws.
These specific cameras, located in Washington, Connecticut, on Old Litchfield Road, Route 109 and Baldwin Hill Road, are placed to protect the estimated 3,600 residents across five rural villages.
