The New Iberia City Council approved  an ordinance amending the speeding laws near school zones that have Blue Line Solutions cameras. 

Mayor Freddie DeCourt said the city will match the times that speeding is operational to conform with state statutes and will vary depending on the schools. 

“We are making the times match the state statute that changes some of that,” DeCourt said. “It will be different at each school because the times they let in and out are different, and we’ll have to do additional signage.”

The ordinance will also put the speed limit at each location at a consistent 25 miles per hour, and will only apply to schools where Blue Line cameras are placed. 

Councilwoman Deedy Johnson-Reid asked whether it was possible to install cameras at more locations in New Iberia due to the high speeding that still takes place in some schools across the city. 

“To me it makes no sense, we should have that at every school,” Johnson-Reid said. “I won’t be here next year but I hope whoever is will get it at each school.”

DeCourt said the placement of the cameras are a decision by Blue Line, who funds and maintains the expensive equipment themselves. 

“They pick the schools because they pay for the equipment,” DeCourt said. “It is a business, they looked at major infractions and picked the schools they wanted to do.”

In other business, the council approved the substantial completion of sidewalks on Center Street at the meeting. 

The project was made possible by City Councilman David Broussard, who pushed the project with allotted funds so that more walkability will be possible near the area of the Louisiana PepperPlex. 

“Mr. David Broussard worked to get these and I already see them being used,” DeCourt said.