Traffic cameras are placed to fleece citizens: Letter to the editor

Re: "Thousands owe hefty fines from N.O. traffic cameras, but they face few consequences;" Page A1, Dec. 29.

Maybe the majority of persons referred to as "scofflaws" in this article simply understand that they are pawns in an unfairly rigged game to line city coffers.

Let's take the camera on Chartres and Gallier as an example. Chartres is a two-way street that has been recently paved. Nevertheless, the speed limit is set at 25 miles an hour -- a speed that is truly low and ridiculous for this type of street. The speed limit here is a speed trap -- set deliberately low to catch more folks to give tickets to.

When I am traveling along Chartres Street there are signs placed before the camera to warn the vehicle owner of the speed limit and the on-coming camera. That always works for me. I slow to a crawl and, for the most part, avoid a ticket. But when traveling along Gallier to Chartres, where one must make a right or left, I have received no fewer than six tickets this year (which I have paid) for going 1 to 5 miles over the speed limit! Really? One to 5 miles over the speed limit?

Worse, there is no sign on Gallier to "remind" me of the camera. Most times, it's just not on my mind when I am concentrating on turning safely and not on traffic cameras. Of course I am going to speed up a bit when making a turn on a busy road, it's just safe driving. Officials set up a speed trap and then place cameras to catch law-abiding citizens to line city coffers.

The $100 fine I've paid for each ticket for going between 1 and 5 miles over the speed limit is just infuriating. I appreciate that as citizens of New Orleans we must pay our taxes and obey the rule of law. These cameras, however, make a mockery of the rule of law because their sole purpose is to fleece law-abiding citizens.

Joseph Marino

New Orleans