BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
The Opelousas Board of Aldermen is prepared to consider on May 9 a proposed ordinance which intends to electronically enforce vehicle speeding violations on municipal streets and roadways.
According to the ordinance which was introduced at an April 11 meeting, the police department is concerned about what they say are recurring high incidences of vehicles being driven inside the city at high rates of speed.
Persons who attend the May 9 Board of Aldermen will have a chance to voice their opinions during a hearing in connection with the proposed ordinance which also seeks to regulates the speeds of vehicles that venture into school zones,
The ordinance which is also posted on the Opelousas City government Website, indicates that city police will use electronic photographic evidence captured on vehicle license plates in order to determine the speeds of vehicles.
Speed zone violators will pay fines determined by rates of speed through a process created in Opelousas City Court. Any appeals associated with alleged speeding violations will also be heard in City Court, the ordinance indicates.
The electronic devices monitoring of vehicle speeds will either be mounted on a trailer or placed in a fixed position, the ordinance says.
Drivers accused of speeding will receive mailed notice of their infractions in addition to the amounts of their fines through information obtained from license plates, the ordinance also indicates.
The ordinance also says that the notifications will include the dates that fines need to be paid in addition to the costs for delinquent payments.
A payment schedule that notes the amounts that will be charged for each violation is contained on the City government website.
Projected speeding fines will range from $100 to $170, depending on the rate of speed.
For instance drivers suspected of driving six to 10 miles per hour over the speed limit would be fined $100. Those who are charged with exceeding speed limits from 30 to 100 miles per hour, can be fined $170 for each alleged violation, the ordinance indicates.
It Is unclear how much the police department or other municipal agencies will each receive from the fine payments.
