(AP) – Missouri Supreme Court judges are weighing arguments
over the constitutionality of a law passed in the wake of the unrest in Ferguson
that would cap traffic fines and court fees.
A lawyer for several St. Louis suburbs told judges in the capital courthouse
Wednesday that the law unfairly targets those cities.
At issue is a limit on the amount of revenue most cities can keep from traffic
fines and court fees to 20 percent of their budgets. St. Louis County
municipalities face a 12.5 percent cap.
Legislators passed the law after the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown,
which led to scrutiny of municipal courts in Ferguson and nearby towns.
A state attorney argued that the lower cap is based on population, and other
municipalities could face similar restrictions later.
over the constitutionality of a law passed in the wake of the unrest in Ferguson
that would cap traffic fines and court fees.
A lawyer for several St. Louis suburbs told judges in the capital courthouse
Wednesday that the law unfairly targets those cities.
At issue is a limit on the amount of revenue most cities can keep from traffic
fines and court fees to 20 percent of their budgets. St. Louis County
municipalities face a 12.5 percent cap.
Legislators passed the law after the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown,
which led to scrutiny of municipal courts in Ferguson and nearby towns.
A state attorney argued that the lower cap is based on population, and other
municipalities could face similar restrictions later.
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