Missouri high court ruling answers one felons possessing guns issue, leaves

A majority of Supreme Court judges found St. Louis’ red-light ordinance unconstitutional because it shifted the burden to the defendant to prove another person was operating the vehicle.

St. Louis Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer last year invalidated the red-light ordinance in St. Louis in a case brought by Sarah Tupper and Sandra Thurmond after their vehicles were photographed running red lights.

The Missouri Supreme Court has ruled against traffic camera ordinances adopted in several cities. “We will work with the Board of Aldermen to prepare a new ordinance that complies with the Court’s rulings”.

The issue became so concerning that police began turning to the U.S. attorney’s office in St. Louis to prosecute some cases to circumvent uncertainty over the state constitutional amendment.

The current ruling may provide some guidance on significant new policy discussions that the Council would have to consider, however, we still feel the data clearly shows that red light cameras had a significant positive impact on traffic safety.

“After much anticipation the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the validity of using photo and video evidence in the enforcement of speeding and red-light running violations”.

The state Supreme Court unanimously agreed that the amendment does not supersede the felon-in-possession law. That provision runs contrary to state law, which requires two points to be assessed for moving violations.

The city had argued that the owner of the vehicle typically drives their own auto 70 to 80 percent of the time.

“The court found our ordinance valid with the exception of one sentence”, Williams said Tuesday. They said violators from now on could incur points on their records.

At issue in Moline Acres was an ordinance to use traffic cameras to spot vehicles speeding.

Messages seeking comment on Tuesday’s court ruling from Joyce, Dotson and McCoy’s attorney were not immediately returned.

Brennan challenged whether the municipal ordinance can turn moving violations into a civil matter that doesn’t result in points against a drivers license.