The Bossier City Council is having a public workshop on Tues. Jan. 17 at 1 p.m. in the Bossier City Council Chambers to hear a presentation form Blue Line Solutions concerning Speed Enforcement Cameras.
Having attended a similar dog and pony by the Blue Line soap sellers in Shreveport I can expect a very smooth sales job that ignores many realities.
Here are some of the problems that have been incurred by Shreveport citizens who have been ticketed by Blue Line Solutions for alleged school speed zone violations:
1. Citizens must pay a $50 to appeal a citation
2. Citizens must take off work to attend appeal hearings
3. Citizens who "win" their appeals have had difficulty getting refunds of the $50 appeal fee as required by the Shreveport contract
4. Citizens have substantial difficulty contacting a Blue Lines person to deal with issues
5. Cameras are not properly labeled as per the contract with Shreveport
6. Cameras are not calibrated as required by the contract with Shreveport and state law
7. Some school zones are not properly marked as required by the Shreveport contract and Louisiana law
8. Many citations have been issued when schools were not in session for holidays or when the school days were for teacher workshops with no students
9. Many citations have been issued in hours that were not listed, as in when students go to school and leave school
And these are just a few of the Blue Line problems.
Following Louisiana law on photo speed cameras and their own contractual obligations with the city of Shreveport has evidently not been a concern for Blue Line.