Jacksboro considering traffic cameras; issues exist with the proposal

By SUSAN SHARP

JACKSBORO, TN. (WLAF)- The Town of Jacksboro is considering installing traffic cameras in the area of the Jacksboro Middle School School Zone.

Not everyone is in favor of this move.

“I am not going to vote for it,” Jacksboro Vice Mayor Jimmy Snodgrass said.

Unmanned traffic cameras are commonly used to issue traffic citations. The cameras catch alleged traffic violations, an officer reviews the footage and then a citation, usually $50, is mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle, regardless of whether they were operating the vehicle at the time or not.

However, under Tennessee State Law, these tickets are considered a non-moving violation and do not result in points being issued on a driver’s license. Traffic camera tickets are considered a civil violation not a traffic or moving violation, according to violationpayment.net, the website where alleged violators are instructed on how to pay the fine.

Non-payment could theoretically result in a civil penalty, such as further court action, by the issuing entity . But that could be a losing plan as the cost to obtain a judgement could outweigh the money collected on the ticket.

Furthermore, the fine is not collected by the town or city. Instead, the privately owned, for profit, traffic camera company is tasked with collecting the fine. In this case, Blue  Line Solutions is the vendor the Town of Jacksboro has been in talks with about the cameras. Blue Line Solutions touts its system as a one stop shop in traffic enforcement with “hassle-free, end-to-end managed services, from equipment and surveillance to citations and collections,” according to its website. Blue Line Solutions operates in 11 states.

The company is offering to install the more than $60,000 system for the town at no cost, Snodgrass said.

He doesn’t see how that proposition is profitable for Blue Line Solutions. The proceeds from the tickets will be an even split with Jacksboro netting $25 and Blue Line Solutions getting the other $25.

In a presentation to the board at its last meeting, the Blue Line Solutions representative said the company had conducted a traffic study of the proposed area where the cameras could be installed. In its study the company allegedly discovered more than 300 cars exceeding the speed limit by 10 miles an hour, Snodgrass said.

Under Tennessee Law, “a vendor of traffic enforcement camera systems shall not be allowed to conduct the traffic engineering study, or to participate in the selection of such traffic engineer, to document the need for a traffic enforcement camera.”

Currently, Blue Line Solutions is facing a lawsuit in Georgia that questions the legality of the company’s operations.

In Chastain vs. Blue Line Solutions, LLC, the plaintiffs allege the practice of issuing a ticket to a registered owner of the vehicle is unconstitutional because it violates due process as laid out in the United States Constitution. Also, the filing alleges Blue Line can’t act as a “de facto” agent of the law or a governing body. The plaintiffs are asking for the money paid due to the alleged traffic violations be refunded to them.

“I am not in favor of this,” Snodgrass said in an interview with WLAF. “Everybody in town needs to be at the next (board) meeting, whether you live in Jacksboro or not. We need  to pack the place out.”

Those interested in attending the meeting should contact the town of Jacksboro at 423-562-9312 as the meeting times often change with little notice.

Blue Line Solutions was contacted by WLAF, however the call wasn’t returned. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 9/16/2024-6AM)