Many citizens have complained about the speeding violations issued by Blue Line Solutions on behalf of the Shreveport Police Department. These are the photo violation tickets.
There are many problems with these tickets:
1. State law requires that the signs have a white background. The local speed signs are reflective yellow, and thus do not comply with state law.
2. State law provides that not tickets may be issued without proper signage. Reportedly many tickets are issued in unposted school zones.
3. State law requires signs to be withing 250 feet to 500 feet of the enforcement area. Many of the posted signs do not comply with this requirement.
4. City ordinance limits speeding tickets to a maximum fine of $150. Some tickets being issued have a fine higher than that amount.
5. To appeal the issue of the photo speed tickets a $50 charge is imposed. This fee is not authorized by state law or local ordinance.
6. State law states that any violation of the state requirements voids the tickets.
Blue Line was sued in Ohio for tickets issued in a speed zone for traffic speeds that were UNDER the maximum speed limit.
In this suit, Blue Line agree to pay $175,000 to settle claims in a class action suit.
Reportedly one or more local attorneys are interested in filing a class action locally for the issues identified in the column below.
The use of the photo speed camera raises a valid public policy issue: privatizing aspects of public service like law enforcement creates many dangers to the public.
The reality is that Blue Line is not accountable to voters or taxpayers. They make money from the tickets issued and share the proceeds with the city.
Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins and/or the city council should immediately suspend the Blue Line ticketing until there is a public review of the laws concerning this operation and the non-compliance with the same by Blue Line and the city of Shreveport.