Racketeering Added to South Carolina Camera Lawsuit

An attorney suing the town of Ridgeland, South Carolina over its use of cameras to catch speeders on Interstate 95 wants racketeering and mail fraud added to the complaint.

The Beaufort Gazette reported attorney Pete Strom has asked to amend the lawsuit complaint and add more plaintiffs. The suit filed last year on behalf of three drivers contends using cameras to ticket speeders is unconstitutional.

Speeders caught on camera are mailed a ticket along with a letter saying if the fine isn’t paid, the town will contact authorities recommending their driver’s licenses be suspended.

Strom said false statements are used on the tickets and letters to induce paying the fines, qualifying as racketeering under federal law.

The town earlier asked that the suit be dismissed.