Bus Cameras Ordinance Passed

By Nancy Correro
The Times of SWLA



At the September 17, 2009 Police Jury meeting, an ordinance to allow video cameras on school buses was passed on a 9-5 vote. The ordinance allows the school board and sheriff’s department to place video cameras in school buses to ticket motorists who illegally pass.

There were several Jurors at the September 17th meeting that were seeking a delay. Mr. Syas wanted a 30 day delay.

“It would come back to me that I made a decision on this when I don’t know the meaning of it and so that’s the part I’m having a hard time with,” Mr. Syas said, at the September 17 Jury meeting.

There were others that didn’t see the validity in adopting the decision. Those Jurors who voted “no” were Syas, Hassien, Scott, Spell and Farnum.

A private company will be operating the program and will be getting most of the share of money collected from the tickets.

"I'm all for safety of children, but I think we've been blinded by safety of children and this is about profit. And that's what I have the biggest problem with," said Juror Ellis Hassien.

Those Jurors who voted for the ordinance to put cameras on school buses were Brame, Landry, McMillin, Andrepont, Collins, Griffin, Guidry, Treme, Stelly, and Mackey.

There will be a safety company that will provide and install the cameras.

“There are safety companies all over the state and that is what they do. They make money off of safety related items or they provide this technology. That’s what makes the world go around. We’re not making any money,” said Juror Chris Landry.

The Sheriff’s department has tried a number of ways to keep people from passing buses. They have had people ride the buses and it still did not work.

“The sheriff’s department said this looks like this might be something that’s different and will work and that is why they asked us to do it. I don’t see a problem with it. If you don’t pass the school bus when you are not supposed to, then you’re not going to get a ticket and it won’t take your picture,” said Landry.

Other municipalities in the parish have been contacted by the Police Jury about the cameras on the buses. School officials say the company isn't willing to invest in a camera system on the buses unless the ordinance is a sure thing.

“It’s a safety issue. You have bus drivers telling you it happens on country roads and it happens in the city; it happens on two lanes and it happens on four lanes, five lanes, it doesn’t matter it happens all the time. Now there are some routes that are worse than others,” said Landry.

Not long ago, there was a car placed in Sulphur that took photographs and then there were citations handed out. Sulphur was not happy with this and voted it out.

“A while back there was a deal in Sulphur where I guess the city of Sulphur had a car parked and they were giving people citations by using the camera. It was a big issue in Sulphur. They didn’t want it. In fact, it was put on the ballot. They wanted the car removed. I think there may be some people trying to make the connection between the two. There is no connection. It’s a completely different issue,” said Landry.

“It passed. So we’ll see. Now they have to go to the other municipalities to try and get them on board. Just don’t pass a school bus; if you do, it’s probably going to be expensive.”