Investigation Reports Small Town of Fenton, Louisiana, Brought In Over $1M In Revenue on Traffic Fines

by Sharelle Burt

November 20, 2023

Fenton, Louisiana, Mayor Eddie Alfred is the choose and jury on the subject of site visitors fines and punishments. Residents flag the battle of curiosity.

Professional Publica reported that the residents of the small city of Fenton, Louisiana, have been shocked to search out that dashing tickets generated multiple million in income.

With the fiscal 12 months ending in June 2022, the city introduced in $1.3 million via ticketing–5 instances as excessive as the common Louisiana municipality its dimension. Fenton covers practically 20 blocks with a metropolis corridor constructing, library, fuel station, Greenback Basic, a church, and one small public housing advanced. Guests from central Louisiana can get via the entire city in beneath a minute, and if somebody has to go to court docket for a dashing ticket, count on the mayor to be the presiding choose.

Fenton village legal professional Mike Holmes says the mayor presides in a “impartial, neutral method,” coinciding with Louisiana regulation.

Nevertheless, court docket data confirmed the city could also be biased in dealing with sure conditions. Case summaries included notes from village staff and officers saying to not “repair” tickets or cut back fees for drivers with what’s described as having a “dangerous angle.” Different notes counsel the police chief and different administration play an element in fees being dismissed, however Holmes stated tickets are solely dismissed via him.

Through the investigation, Mayor Eddie Alfred mentioned the necessity for police to jot down extra tickets.

“We have to write extra site visitors tickets,” Alfred stated. “I talked to the chief yesterday.”

Residents didn’t take too kindly to the mayor’s feedback.

“Prefer it’s annoying, it’s annoying, it’s actually annoying,” Fenton resident Cody Brock stated concerning pace limits within the metropolis.

“I don’t perceive how generally it’s like 45 then 50 and prefer it must be straight till you get right into a city, however, if it’s not in a city, then I don’t perceive, like down there.”

One other resident, Danny Alfred, says there must be somebody held accountable. He talked about that he believes town is establishing intentional traps for him and his fellow residents.

“The place is the cash going? There’s just one person who has entry to it,” Alfred stated.

Alfred identified that different issues must be fastened and up to date of their small metropolis, like defective water methods, open ditches, and offering a protected house for kids to play.

“We simply spent $112,000 on a library with one laptop and eight books, and never one individual went via the doorways. No one even work there, so what’s it,” he stated. “I imply, we don’t even perceive what it’s, that’s the type of stuff they doing, after which they get mad after we say one thing.”