The Advocate reported today that the duo suing to stop local government's SafeSpeed and SafeLight programs, contracted to Arizona-based Redflex Traffic Systems, has dropped its federal complaint. But plaintiffs Stephanie Ware and Phil Abshire say they plan to pursue the matter in state court.
The change in strategy comes after a federal magistrate judge on Tuesday recommended that the higher-up district judge dismiss the federal litigation. The lawsuit attacked the enforcement program as unconstitutional, arguing in part that it improperly skirts the legal protections given to someone accused of a criminal traffic violation by pursuing fines through a civil process, which offers fewer safeguards for the accused.
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