Austin ISD's new "School Bus Camera" Swindle

"Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord,
But a just weight is His delight."
Proverbs 11:1

We didn't report on the campaign to remove red light cameras earlier this year in Arlington, but one of the key players has just set up shop in Austin:

Austin school buses will soon start recording drivers who pass them illegally.

The school board is contracting with Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions to install cameras on about 300 buses, roughly 60 percent of the fleet. The cameras, which are installed near the stop arms of the buses, start rolling once the bus stops. After a review by Austin school district police, any drivers recorded passing stopped buses will receive a $300 ticket in the mail.

[Author's Note: Emphasis added.]

It gets better:

The Austin school district isn’t paying American Traffic Solutions anything for installing the cameras. The district will give 60 percent of the ticket revenues to American Traffic Solutions, and the district will keep the rest. Hafezizadeh said that the proportions could change, depending on the number of systems installed and whether the district or the vendor will perform certain related services.

But at least it'll be fairly enforced:

Some drivers have complained about the accuracy of the cameras and the fairness of the adjudication process when people want to contest tickets. In San Marcos, drivers contest a camera-enforced ticket with the school bus camera vendor, who makes most of the profit from the tickets. Drivers can appeal the vendor’s decision to a municipal court judge, but they rarely do.

....

Drivers who violate the law can be charged with a misdemeanor and fined up to $1,250.

Because we're from the government and we're here to harass you and give your money to our cronies help.

#FortheChildren

Bottom Line: Austin ISD seems determined to make itself one of this website's top 2016 priorities.