Greenville's red-light camera program was ruled unconstitutional back in March because too little of the money it generates through penalties end up with the local school system, the state Court of Appeals ruled. Now, the Greenville City Council could be set to pull the plug on the entire program.
Two recent lawsuits challenge the state law that allowed Greenville and Wilmington to set up red-light camera enforcement programs. If successful, the suits would block any N.C. city from operating red-light cameras under that law.
Red-light cameras have once again been declared unconstitutional in North Carolina. No one is surprised because this is the second time RLCs have been declared in violation of state law. Policing for profit, even if it is allegedly designed to benefit the school systems, always has a stench about it.
A group of Charlotte police is under investigation for pointing a gun at and handcuffing a schoolteacher in front of her house in a case of mistaken identity. The city’s Citizens Review Board unanimously voted to hear the woman's complaint after she reported the incident to officials.
A unanimous three-judge panel of the N.C. Court of Appeals has ruled Greenville's red-light camera program unconstitutional. The judges agreed the program does not provide enough of its proceeds to local schools.