Louisiana Speed Camera Crackdown Hits Major Snag: Is Shreveport Next to Be Exempt?

Louisiana Speed Camera Bill Hits Snag Over Opelousas Exemption 

A bill (SB99) aimed at restricting the use of speed cameras across Louisiana is facing backlash after a narrow amendment passed in the House to exempt the city of Opelousas from the new regulations. The bill, which otherwise passed by a wide 72-23 margin, now risks unraveling as lawmakers debate whether to push forward or fight the controversial carve-out. 

Opelousas Exemption Creates Legislative Headache 

Senator Stewart Cathey, Jr., who has championed the effort to reform automated traffic enforcement, expressed clear frustration with the Opelousas amendment. “I told the representative I didn’t support it,” he said, adding that not only does the amendment allow Opelousas to opt out of the new restrictions, but it also removes prior rules the city was required to follow. “Now they don’t have to obey those rules anymore because they don’t exist,” Cathey said. 

The amendment passed 47-46, a margin so slim that Cathey speculates some lawmakers may have voted incorrectly. “It looked like the bill was sailing through. It was pretty aggravating,” he admitted. 

Snowball Effect Already Beginning 

Cathey warned the amendment is setting a dangerous precedent. “I’ve already had other municipalities saying, ‘If you send this to conference, we want to be exempted too,’” he said. If the bill is sent to conference committee, other towns may use the opportunity to carve themselves out, further weakening the legislation. 

Although conference could remove the Opelousas exemption, it’s a gamble. The process would require two-thirds of both House and Senate delegates on the committee to agree on a new version, then another vote in both chambers. Cathey and others are now weighing whether it’s better to keep the bill as-is or risk losing it altogether. 

School Zone Cameras Still in Play 

For Shreveport and other cities using cameras in school zones, those can stay, but with tougher regulations. Thanks to Senator Alan Seabaugh’s additions, schools must now have flashing lights, clear signage, and road markings 200 feet ahead of the camera zones. “It’s more stringent than last year,” Cathey noted. 

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Cathey acknowledged that safety concerns, particularly around schools, made these types of cameras less controversial. “I’m not going to argue on your behalf if you’re speeding through a school zone,” he said. The real public anger has stemmed from speed cameras on regular roadways, which many view as revenue-generating traps rather than safety tools. 

What's Next? 

The Senate must now vote to either concur with the House version of the bill, Opelousas exemption included, or send it to conference committee. That decision will likely come soon, and Cathey says the conversation with Senator Seabaugh and others is ongoing. 

With 99% of the bill intact, lawmakers must decide: Is it worth the risk to try for 100%?