Two years ago, St. Louis’ then mayor, Tishaura Jones, made a big push to bring red light cameras back to the city. The Board of Aldermen signed off on a plan. Current Mayor Cara Spencer also says she’s on board. But the effort has seemingly stalled out before the selection of a vendor, thanks to two problems: turnover at City Hall and stipulations by city officials that could alienate any potential vendors.
The stipulations may well prove the bigger problem—and they’re baked into the very legislation that enabled the cameras in the first place.
In order for cameras to be implemented legally in Missouri, there must be a mechanism by which the courts can prove the person issued the ticket was actually driving the vehicle when it was ticketed, says attorney Hugh Eastwood…