Traffic Cameras: The Greatest Bane of Opening Your Mailbox

The Greatest Bane of Opening the Mailbox

There are few things that can ruin a New Orleanian's day faster than opening the mailbox and finding a traffic camera citation. That slim envelope — the one from the city's automated enforcement program — contains photographic evidence that you were driving 5 mph over the speed limit in a school zone during drop-off hours, and now you owe the city money for the privilege of having been caught by a robot.

Traffic cameras are stationed throughout the city, monitoring speed and red-light violations with the tireless efficiency that human traffic enforcement has never achieved. They cause much frustration, cursing, and out-of-pocket expenses for infractions that most drivers consider minor and the cameras consider actionable. The feeling of being ticketed by a machine — without the human interaction that at least gives you the chance to plead your case — adds insult to the financial injury.

The Speed Trap Economy

The cameras generate significant revenue for the city, which is both the justification for their existence and the reason many residents view them with suspicion. Are they about safety, or are they about money? The city says safety. The residents who've received four tickets in a month say money. The truth is probably somewhere in between, in that gray area where public policy and municipal revenue meet and pretend they don't know each other.

The school zone cameras are particularly maddening because the zones activate during drop-off and pick-up hours that don't always align with common sense. You're driving through at 8:47 AM, school has clearly started, the zone is still active, and the camera doesn't care about your interpretation of "school hours." It sees 27 in a 20 zone, and your mailbox gets another envelope.

Frequently Asked Questions About Traffic Cameras in New Orleans

How much are traffic camera tickets?

Fines vary but typically range from $75 to $150 or more, depending on the type of violation and the location.

Can I contest a traffic camera ticket?

Yes. You can contest a ticket through the city's adjudication process. The citation includes instructions for how to appeal.

Do traffic camera tickets affect my driving record?

In Louisiana, automated traffic camera citations are treated as civil violations rather than moving violations, so they typically do not affect your driving record or insurance rates.