Redlight Camera Judge Demands City Return Corporate Cop Car, Condemns City's Revenue Raising Antics

Dec. 30, 2011 - PRLog -- St. Charles, MO, December 30, 2011- A St. Louis metro suburb, the City of Charlack, recently announced that it has received a new tool aimed at violating the privacy and due process rights of Missouri citizens – a corporate cop car. Under the guise of promoting public safety, Charlack has obtained a $100,000 vehicle that employs four mounted cameras to continuously take pictures of speeding vehicles and images of drivers' faces.

Mike Carter, candidate for Lieutenant Governor, a former municipal judge presided over red-light camera cases and witnessed first-hand the affront of these devices on the privacy and due process rights of Missouri citizens. “As a judge, It was painful watching as the prosecutor would demand that a father turn his daughter in to avoid receiving a fine for a picture of the father’s car; It's time for cities to stop farming out their policing duties to corporations and stop violating the rights of our citizens. Claiming to use these tools to promote safety is a farce; every person in my court knew these were revenue raising schemes.”

Carter cited the city's agreement to pay 35% of all fees received from the tickets to the company who provided the vehicle as further proof that these traffic camera tickets are all about money. "This company has a direct financial interest in insuring that our citizens are penalized. These tickets require no face-to-face interaction with an officer of the law, and rob citizens of the right to face their accusers in a court of law."

Charlack has a reputation for putting revenue before public safety and citizens’ rights. Earlier this year, the city took down speed cameras on I-170 after it became clear that they were not complying with MoDOT's requirements for their use. St. Louis County Police Chief Tom Fitch also condemned the city's practices, claiming that these cameras had little purpose other than raising revenue.

Mike Carter has made clear that, if elected, he would use every tool available to outlaw traffic cameras used for issuing traffic tickets. This new speed camera vehicle in Charlack can expect the same treatment. “Charlack has an opportunity to set an example and send a clear message of repudiation by returning its corporate cop car.”

Carter says that if he were Attorney General, he would pressure Missouri’s Department of Transportation and all of these metastasizing traffic-camera municipalities to stand down.  He hopes that a like-minded GOP candidate steps forward for that office.

Carter is an Independent-minded Republican who has cast votes for Ross Perot and Ron Paul. He is a former judge, real estate attorney, Senior Lecturer for the University of Missouri, corporate counsel, and Director at the St. Louis Board of REALTORS.
Chad Carter Chad@vote4carter.com 314-503-9285

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2012 Lt. Governor Candidate, Mike Carter is running for the 2012 Lieutenant Governor's Office in the State of Missouri.

Chad Carter Chad@vote4carter.com 314-503-9285