This Louisiana Town Runs Largely on Traffic Fines. If You Fight Your Ticket, the Mayor Is Your Judge. - eviltoast

Fenton, population 226, brings in over $1 million per year through its mayor’s court, an unusual justice system in which the mayor can serve as judge even though he’s responsible for town finances.

  • Seasoned_Greetings@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    I live in Louisiana. Fenton is what’s known here as a speed trap town.

    Except for the i-10, every major highway in LA has these. The trick is that the average speed limit on these highways is around 60 or 70, and then it drops to 30 or 40 for a mile stretch where cops are waiting for you just after the sign.

    If you missed the sign or haven’t slowed down sufficiently by the time you reach it, they pull you over and write you a ticket for ~$600. I got one of these in 2018 for the latter reason.

    You can follow the speed limit to the letter and miss one sign on accident. It actually is a trap. As the article says, It’s a main source of income for the small towns along the highways of LA. It’s corrupt as shit but we allow it so what can you do?

    • Wrench@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Sounds like highway robbery. Literally.

      They also like to throw up temporary construction signs with adjusted speed limits without actually doing construction.

      Fucking parasites.

    • FoundTheVegan@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      so what can you do?

      Repeal the town charter and fold it in to the control of the county? I’m not going to pretend that I’m well versed in Louisiana law, but this has happened in lot of other states. If the town is a legitimate trap for the residents of that county/state then isn’t it everyone’s best interest? Including Fentons who clearly doesn’t have another income source.