OPD Chief Supports Speed Cameras
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
Opelousas Police Chief Graig LeBlanc says that speed enforcement cameras monitoring motorists since 2023 citywide are acting as an effective public mechanism rather than a primary revenue source.
LeBlanc told St. Landry Now.com that he also disagrees with State Senator Steven Cathey, Jr. (R-Monroe), who has introduced state legislation that seeks tightened regulations for automated speed enforcement cameras, similar to the ones that Opelousas city police now use to monitor vehicles that exceed speed limits.
Cathey has called Opelousas the “speed camera capital of Louisiana” and stated in a June 2 published story in the Louisiana Illuminator, that OPD is using the cameras as a “money grab.”
Also Cathey teased the idea of erecting a billboard outside Opelousas which he said would designate the city as “the speed trap capital of Louisiana.”
At this point no matter what the outcome of the Cathey-sponsored bill, it appears Opelousas will be exempt from any speed camera restrictions.
An amendment authored by State Representative Dustin Miller, which passed by one vote, exempts the city from any regulations should any part of the proposed speed camera bill become state law.
Miller told The Illuminator that using the automated camera system, which issues citations for motors who exceed the city speed limits by 12 or more miles per hour, allows the freeing up officers who are better used patrolling for violent crimes.
OPD, Miller added, is apparently operating the speed camera system correctly.
“That’s why I am thinking we should continue to allow (OPD) to do it the way they are doing it,” Miller said.
If passed, the bill by Cathey will require municipalities to provide proper sign notification that areas are being monitored by camera and provide an improved administrative process for motorists to appeal their citations.
Opelousas, said LeBlanc is already in signage compliance.
LeBlanc said OPD receives 60 percent of the costs assigned for the citations. The private company that provides the camera system and the equipment upkeep, gets 40 percent of the revenues from fines.
“The company pays for all the licensing fees and the billing that is used for the fines. Can you imagine what the costs would be if we tried to do that as a department? The cameras belong to the company.
“Cameras are used to read the plates and we have someone assigned to review the citation, make sure there are no double plates and after all that is approved, the company sends out the notices. We (OPD) make the final approval,” LeBlanc said.
LeBlanc said he has noticed a decline in traffic speeding and traffic accidents since camera enforcement was instituted.
However LeBlanc told St. Landry Now.com that he is unsure how much revenue Opelousas has received since the cameras began monitoring traffic.
One area of Opelousas where said cameras are necessary, said LeBlanc, is an area around the Dairy Queen located on West Landry.
“All our cameras are placed in high volume traffic areas. Can you imagine with all the business and cars that are around the Dairy Queen, what type of tragedy we might have if a child would run out in traffic?” said LeBlanc.
