The world is taking bold strides towards technologically advanced systems for things that were otherwise quite analogue. From smart licensing apps to self-driving cars, now it seems that even the way we get road tickets is to be automated, and one state is leading the charge in this regard.
Automated tickets and how this will work
Starting this month, selected intersections will be fitted with automated cameras that will issue tickets for road violations. This system is being evaluated at five undisclosed locations as part of the testing phase for this automated ticketing system. This state just recently passed a law that makes it illegal for drivers to have their phones physically in their hands while operating a motor vehicle, and these automated ticket cameras tie into this law.
This follows years of debate between city officials and residents, with road safety advocates pushing hard to see these measures take place. Distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of road accidents, and these steps are being taken to curb the rise of these incidents.
Road safety is in the spotlight in this state
A steady rise in distracted driving accidents has been noted by the state of Louisiana, and strong measures are being put in place to curtail this. The law around cell phones being used while driving was put in place on August 1, and although warnings have been issued over a period of acclimation for drivers, this automated ticketing system will see that end. The state maintains that this is not about making money but more about protecting road users.
A complete ban on cell phone usage is now in effect in the state of Louisiana, but drivers are technically still allowed to use their cell phones. Hands-free systems and the like are permitted and encouraged, but transgressors are liable to face fines as steep as $100, with the price rising for repeat offenses.
How will automated cameras help increase safety in Louisiana?
These cameras are being put in place to aid law enforcement in catching violators that may otherwise fall by the wayside. The cameras take images and record video continuously, and their locations being kept secret is also an advantage, according to city officials. This has been done to make sure people adhere to this new ban on cell phone usage beyond the intersections where these automated cameras have been placed.
The public has expressed mixed feelings about this, with some people being in favor of the system, especially as so many drivers use their phones while driving, with very little care. Others have raised issues around privacy and the matter of whether the cameras will work fairly or result in tickets being issued for infractions that could otherwise be deemed unserious.
Managing the mixed reactions to the automated ticketing system
The state has made sure that these cameras have been tested thoroughly, but this move has been shrouded in some secrecy, which has left residents divided. People remain uncertain about tickets being issued this way, along with the ban on cell phones while driving.
The city’s Traffic Safety Camera Pilot Program – launched in August with enforcement beginning in September- explains in detail how this automated ticket system will work, how tickets can be contested, and how the evidence captured by these cameras or law enforcement will be examined. The revenue generated has provisions for it, which will see this money poured back into road safety measures and improvements.
This system will run for a period of one year, after which city officials and experts will review the data gathered to determine whether this automated ticketing system should be done away with or expanded. For now, drivers are urged to keep their phones out of their hands while driving and hold safety in higher regard.
