Hilton Head Island Packet Logo

Haley signs speed camera ban into law | Hilton Head Island Packet

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Archives
    • Contact Us
    • eEdition
    • Newsletters
    • Subscribe
    • Contests
    • About Us
    • Sponsorships
    • News
    • Beaufort Gazette
    • Bluffton Packet
    • Special Reports
    • Databases
    • Local
    • South Carolina
    • Traffic
    • Crime & Public Safety
    • Business
    • Politics & Elections
    • Military
    • Nation & World
    • Professional Opinion
    • Lottery Results
    • Blog: Untamed Lowcountry
    • Sports
    • College
    • Golf
    • RBC Heritage
    • Recreation
    • High School
    • MLB
    • NFL
    • NBA
    • Outdoors
    • Columnists
    • Jeff Shain
    • Cast & Blast
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Technology
    • Full Stock Listings
    • Market Summaries
    • Mutual Funds
    • Treasury Rates
    • New Employee/Promotion Form
    • New Business Owner Form
    • Living
    • Celebrations
    • Religion
    • Food & Drink
    • Family
    • Outdoors
    • Holidays
    • Columnists
    • Lowcountry Gardening
    • Made With Love
    • Faith in Action
    • Entertainment
    • Arts & Culture
    • Local Events
    • Holidays & Seasonal
    • Horoscopes
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Columnists
    • Mindy Lucas
    • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Other Views
    • Readers Opinion
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Submit a Letter
    • National Voices
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Columnists
    • David Lauderdale
    • Liz Farrell
  • Obituaries

    • Classifieds
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Sections
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Place An Ad
  • Mobile & Apps

Beaufort News

Haley signs speed camera ban into law

By PATRICK DONOHUE

pdonohue@beaufortgazette.com

843-706-8152

    ORDER REPRINT →

June 17, 2011 06:43 PM

Gov. Nikki Haley signed a bill Friday outlawing Ridgeland's use of cameras to enforce speeding laws on Interstate 95 -- and anywhere else in the state such systems might be employed.

The bill, introduced by state Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, was sent to Haley's desk Thursday after passing the Senate on Tuesday.

The new law bans the cameras and speeding tickets based on photographic evidence, and requires officers hand-deliver speeding tickets to accused speeders. It also includes plans offered by Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, to create a state commission composed of law enforcement officials, lawyers, politicians and other authorities to examine the ethical, legal and policy issues created by traffic cameras.

The camera system will be immediately shut down, Ridgeland Mayor Gary Hodges said in a statement on the town's website. The cameras were deployed in August after the town struck a five-year deal with iTraffic, a company that relocated to Ridgeland and helped the town set up and administer its system.

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Island Packet

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

"While we may not necessarily agree with the state shutting down one of the most effective public safety programs in South Carolina's history, we will fully comply with the law as we always do," Hodges said in the statement.

The new law was the second time in less than two years that lawmakers took aim at the town's cameras.

About a year ago, the General Assembly passed a law banning speed cameras except in emergencies.

Ridgeland officials said that law applied only to unmanned cameras. The town's system is attended remotely by a police officer in a nearby RV.

Bill Danzell, iTraffic chairman, praised town officials for fighting state lawmakers.

"It is never easy to be a public-safety pioneer," Danzell said in an email. "Courage and a thick skin are prerequisites. From the seatbelt law to photo enforcement laws, progress is never in a straight line. By the Ridgeland Police Department's commitment to embrace new technologies and a common-sense work practice, both South Carolina residents and visitors benefited from reduced accidents, injuries and saved lives."

Grooms saw the camera system as a money grab by the town and iTraffic and believed it raised constitutional questions.

"There are many things you can say about South Carolina, but we absolutely do not want to gain the reputation of being the nation's speed trap," Grooms said after the bill passed the Senate in March.

The town also is being sued in federal court by three ticketed drivers who say their constitutional rights were violated, that iTraffic had too much control over police operations and that mailing tickets out of the town's jurisdiction constituted mail fraud. The lawsuit requests that Ridgeland return all fines it has collected.

Follow staff writer Patrick Donohue at www.twitter.com/ProtectServeBft.

  Comments  

Videos

Missing Beaufort County teen Malik Spencer’s body has been found. Here’s what we know

Remembering a hero: A look back at Robert Smalls and his influence on Beaufort, SC

View More Video

Trending Stories

After ‘a bad, bad reaction,’ Hilton Head stops drainage talks with gated communities

February 20, 2019 09:08 AM

22-year-old Hilton Head man missing since Monday. Police and family members concerned

February 20, 2019 04:18 PM

Body found inside vehicle behind Bluffton Target, officials say. Investigation underway

February 21, 2019 11:18 AM

The mystery of Bluffton mail

February 20, 2019 10:13 AM

Police investigating vehicle being shot on US 278. Here’s what we know

February 20, 2019 02:23 PM

Read Next

From rails to fish: Lowcountry pier was once one of the most important S.C. railroads
Video media Created with Sketch.

Local

From rails to fish: Lowcountry pier was once one of the most important S.C. railroads

By Briana Saunders

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 21, 2019 10:24 AM

In 2013, Jasper County Council officials and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources built the Knowles Island Fishing Pier. What many don’t know is the pier used to be a part of the Charleston and Savannah Railroad.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Island Packet

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE BEAUFORT NEWS

Starbucks closes a Bluffton location, but at least 2 other Starbucks to open along U.S. 278

Business

Starbucks closes a Bluffton location, but at least 2 other Starbucks to open along U.S. 278

February 21, 2019 08:45 AM
Bald eagle was hit by a car on Hilton Head. Here’s an update on its injuries

Untamed Lowcountry

Bald eagle was hit by a car on Hilton Head. Here’s an update on its injuries

February 20, 2019 08:31 AM
Hilton Head charter captain finds unlikely fishing buddies — a dolphin mom and baby

Untamed Lowcountry

Hilton Head charter captain finds unlikely fishing buddies — a dolphin mom and baby

February 20, 2019 02:44 PM
Beaufort County Schools 2019-20 calendar is out. What does it mean for makeup days?

Education

Beaufort County Schools 2019-20 calendar is out. What does it mean for makeup days?

February 19, 2019 09:26 PM
Body of missing 33-year-old man recovered off Tybee Island, reports say

Crime & Public Safety

Body of missing 33-year-old man recovered off Tybee Island, reports say

February 19, 2019 09:43 AM
Buying or selling a home in Beaufort Co.? Here are the most popular neighborhoods

Real Estate News

Buying or selling a home in Beaufort Co.? Here are the most popular neighborhoods

February 19, 2019 09:16 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Hilton Head Island Packet App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Photo Store
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
  • Special Sections
  • Place an Obituary
  • Today's Circulars
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story