Several new traffic laws went into effect as of August 1. Kevin Barnhart has the details on a few of them.
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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Former LSP Superintendent Mike Edmondson’s Side Trip Troopers got a sharply reduced disciplinary sentence from the Civil Service Commission. Matt Doyle has more.
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Louisiana shrimpers on strike? It could happen very soon. Kevin Barnhart has the details.
Cut 3 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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Several new traffic laws went into effect as of August 1. Among those laws, were stiffer penalties for DWI convictions, new laws on driving in flooded areas, and the use of off-road vehicles on public roads. Act 198 levies an additional $50 fine for the use of breath-testing in a DWI conviction, with the increase bringing the price tag up from the original $75 to $125. Impaired driving consultant, Mike Barron, says that money is being reinvested into traffic safety.
Barron says as the result of the criminal justice reform, the length of time a judge can sentence a repeat DWI offender to probation was shortened accidentally. As a result the law needed to be amended to allow judges to extend the time an offender’s treatment takes place, which is what Act 508 does.
Cut 5 (11) “…as long as eight years.”
Barron says another law put onto the books applies to careless driving in conditions many Louisiana residents are all too familiar with: flood water.
Cut 6 (11) “…a separate crime now.”
The law carries a penalty of up to 250 hours community service and a two-year driver’s license suspension.
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Three Louisiana State Police Troopers who took a side trip to Vegas during former Superintendent Mike Edmondson’s tenure and allegedly had themselves a night out on the town at the state’s expense have had their disciplinary sentences significantly reduced by the civil service commission. Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche says, that’s highly disappointing.
The troopers had their original displaces handed down by the new Superintendent, which involved demotions and pay cuts for the trip that occurred when they were assigned to go to California for training, but received permission from Edmondson to take a detour. The troopers claimed their actions were justified because of that permission, but Goyeneche says that defense shouldn’t have held up.
Goyeneche says the whole ordeal is a blow to a department looking for rebound and rebuild after a tenure he says was marked with corruption and malfeasance.
Edmonson’s case will be heard later this year in federal court.
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Louisiana shrimpers say a strike could be coming soon if prices hit thirty cents a pound as they are feeling the effect of cheaper, imported seafood. Captain Acy Cooper says many of the imported shrimp from countries like Indonesia are flooding the market just before the season kicks off in the Bayou State.
Cut 10 (04) “…run our prices down.”
Cooper says tariffs are only a temporary fix and suggests possibly putting a cap on imported shrimp so local shrimps can continue to make a living.
Cut 11 (04) “…where we at now.”
If all this talk of shrimp is making you hungry, Cooper says to ensure you are purchasing Louisiana shrimp, buy your seafood directly from the local fishermen. And as far as ways to eat shrimp…
Cut 12 (08) “…we live off of shrimp.”
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Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards visited with President Donald Trump in New Jersey yesterday to talk criminal justice reform, a topic that is reportedly under consideration by the Republican President for a major congressional push. Edwards celebrated the state’s savings of 12.2 million dollars from the first year of new laws.
One result of the reforms was a major drop in the total prison and supervised population in the state, which lost Louisiana one of its more infamous monikers. When Edwards relayed that bit of information, the President perked up….
The reforms have come under fire from two of Edwards’ potential gubernatorial opponents for the 2019 governor’s race. Senator John Kennedy sent a letter to the president ahead of the meeting warning him not to believe the governor’s message, but Edwards stuck to his guns and told the president about what he sees as a major win for the state.
Edwards was the only elected Democrat at the meeting of governors, attorney generals, and other officials from across the country.
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