So in perhaps the ultimate proof that municipalities put in red light cameras for fast cash as opposed to any sense of “protecting the citizens”, Jefferson Parish is looking at a huge slug of cash as a result of its installation of the cameras.  But they’ve got just two hurdles to cross before they can take advantage of that influx of cash, which is currently in escrow.

One, they’ve got to divvy that money up with the local hospitals, who’ve been on hard times pretty much since Hurricane Katrina hit town, including the fact that they’re owed about five million bucks in checks from the Feds.

Two, the cameras are, kinda, sorta, teeeeeeechnically illegal.  Or at least that’s what the content of a lawsuit says that’s been leveled against the parish.  Check THIS out:

A lawsuit in state court asserts the stop light cameras break several state laws and violate the Louisiana constitution. It’s an argument similar to the one that U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance threw out of federal court in May.

So unless Jefferson Parish can work out a deal with the hospitals and beat a lawsuit, they won’t be balancing the budget this year after all.