A Georgia bill to prevent local jurisdictions from using school zone speed cameras has gained momentum, and for once, lawmakers may act despite what the lobbyists and industry insiders say.
House Bill 225 bars automated cameras, but it does not prevent law enforcement officials from using automated radars to detect drivers’ speeds. In other words, speeding remains verboten — just a human must catch the motorist in the act.
The bill is needed because jurisdictions are ticketing motorists outside school hours for speeding. They’re not speeding because the cameras are ticketing motorists when they shouldn’t.
It’s likely one of the least surprising government scandals to anyone who thinks about it for a moment.
Worse yet, the revenue is supposed to support school safety initiatives. But, like so many things the government does, the money goes into a giant pot, often the general fund, and goes to whatever pet projects are popular on the given day the withdrawal is made.
If we’re honest, inappropriate speeding tickets are just one way governments nickel and dime the citizenry.
One of the most galling I’ve encountered is the scam to charge home-based businesses with no employees for an occupancy permit. That’s right: A gig economy worker working from a home office must pay the government for that privilege.
I’ve spoken with my city councilman about changing my hometown’s home-based business requirements. But like so many things the government does, they don’t see a need to change the burdensome requirements.
In my case, it’s even worse. My city councilman, who is also my neighbor, admitted he cut me out of a city process to make some changes to the requirements because it was easier for him.
So much for leadership and respecting constituents who might have an idea for improving government — the path of least resistance is the most politically expedient for politicians.
However, this lack of leadership has resulted in many of the problems we see in our communities. Problems that leaders could solve often aren’t because they aren’t sexy; they don’t generate the headlines that help with reelection.
As insiders in my city told me privately, some people likely lie and flout home-based business occupancy permit requirements. Yet again, the honest people are punished.
Fraudulently issued speeding tickets are too much of an abomination to ignore.
Georgia politicians say they are serious about a Red Tape Rollback and the state’s position as the “best” for business. So, why not look at the state law that empowers local governments to mandate some small businesses pay to work from home?
The local government lobby will no doubt fight it. But if small businesses are the backbone of the economy, as many love to say, why not throw them a bone and eliminate one needless tax (or fee, if you insist on playing that game)?
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