Prosecutor Shuts Down "Speed Trap"
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
A prosecutor says Reed`s police department was formed to raise revenue from traffic tickets, not to enforce the law.
Prosecutor Thomas Deen cited the state law banning speed traps in ordering Police Chief Charles Atkins Junior on Tuesday to stop writing tickets.
Atkins is the only police officer in the southeast Arkansas city that includes a half mile of U.S. 65. He says he runs legitimate traffic enforcement and is trying to slow down speeders to save lives.
Deen says he will dismiss any tickets written on the highway by Reed`s chief. He says any money from tickets not dismissed must go to the county`s school fund, not the city of Reed.
Reed city attorney Don Warren said Deen failed to follow Arkansas law in issuing the order, and he plans to seek an injunction to keep it from being enforced.
