I recently got photographed by a red light camera on Coursey Boulevard and paid $117 to or Verra Mobility, a corporate outfit headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. I scheduled a hearing to contest the violation at Baton Rouge City Hall, but I backed out since I did not want to use leave time from work. Some thoughts have come to mind after my experience, such as: Is it even legal that a for-profit entity is running this camera program instead of a human traffic cop who would have issued violations in the past?
I request that Mr. Greg Rome of the East Baton Rouge Parish Attorney’s office and the Baton Rouge City Hall refund me the $117 I paid to Verra Mobility of Arizona. Why? Because I believe this program has so many issues that make it illegitimate.
First, there are no night court options so that day shift working people can contest a supposed violation at a hearing without missing work.
Second, only 15 days are given for the mail to bring the violation to the supposed offender and then for his or her appeal to get to Verra Mobility’s P.O. box in Seattle, Washington. This is impossible: Increase this to 30 days from 15 days. Third, why are we sending this money out of state instead of providing jobs for greater Baton Rouge residents? Are license plate reading cameras even approved by a majority of Baton Rouge voters and are they posted here and there with a Big Tech company tracking residents? It’s a lot to be concerned about.
ANNA LIESEL HURDER
Baton Rouge