Lawmakers look set to make bad laws stink less

After years of trying, two of the most odious laws regarding motor vehicle operation designed primarily as revenue grabs appear to be on the verge of amelioration, although if legislators have real fortitude to follow through they would neuter these completely.

SB 99 by Republican state Sen. Stewart Cathey provides further deterrent to the use of traffic enforcement cameras, following up on changes last year. Those alterations, in providing increased due process protections, also increased expenses to local governments making use of these less attractive. The bill would increase the deterrent by subjecting officials of the jurisdictions using these to malfeasance charges, which Cathey thought would improve matters as he perceived many of the provisions recently enacted were being ignored – which has validity, if a recent incident of an egregious violation of the law in West Baton Rouge Parish is any indicator.

Speed cameras still would be legal, however, and more loophole closings could be employed that both make revenue generation for its own sake more difficult and allow for greater due process. The bill could be amended to mandate requirements of (1) taking pictures both of license plates and faces (2) that must be clearly recognizable after review by a police officer verified by a city or district judge (3) from a camera proven calibrated accurately taking only vehicle and people photos only during posted times (4) subject to criminal, not civil, proceedings in order to get a conviction.

Unneeded law school in NW LA would waste money

Other than both employment and financial data not backing the idea, putting a state-supported law school in small-town northwest Louisiana might work.

Last week, Northwestern State University in Natchitoches announced it would seek establishment of a law school on its campus stating in fewer than 18 months. That would constitute a Herculean effort to have the necessary resources obtained, several faculty members hired, and accreditation secured. It would be the first located not in New Orleans, where there are private Tulane and Loyola, or Baton Rouge, where there are public Louisiana State University and Southern University.

For decades, complaints have circulated in the northern part of the state that not being near a state law school hampered provision of legal services. The Metroplex and Little Rock were the next closest locations for much of the area, and these out-of-state locations weren’t much closer than the state’s two largest cities for most living in the area. NSU alleges it has letters of support from lawyers in the area.

College crisis will deepen without big change

That the severe financial struggles at the University of New Orleans now have been joined by those at the University of Louisiana Monroe send yet another warning signal about how Louisiana higher education will face rough waters for years to come unless some basic rethinking and restructuring occur.

Problems cropped up years ago at UNO as its student population dipped precipitously in the wake of the hurricane disasters of 2005, with that number falling some five-eighths since the fall, 2004 semester. ULM’s problems have not been so enrollment-related, with its number down just a percentage point over the two decades, but it has seen a six percent decline since the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic began plus it has seen a significant falloff in its doctorate-level pharmacy graduate program.

And, both made mistakes that translated into financial problems. For example, UNO got away from the basics and flirted with new trendy/boutique programs, while ULM picked up a white elephant building that causes spending in the red on its behalf.

Easter Sunday, 2025

This column publishes five days weekly after noon U.S. Central Time (maybe even after sundown on busy days, or maybe before noon if things work out, or even sometimes on the weekend if there's big news) except whenever a significant national holiday falls on the Monday through Friday associated with the otherwise-usual publication on the previous day (unless it is Thanksgiving Day, Independence Day, Christmas, or New Year's Day when it is the day on which the holiday is observed by the U.S. government). In my opinion, in addition to these are also Easter Sunday, Memorial Day and Veterans' Day.

With Sunday, Apr. 20 being Easter, I invite you to explore this link.