State Sen. Troy Hebert, D-Jeanerette, wants your private personal information to remain that way.

SB 396, by Hebert, has passed the Senate Local and Municipal Affairs Committ-ee by a 3-2 vote and is expected to go before the full Senate this week. The bill pertains to red light cameras which photograph license plate numbers of motorists who run red lights or stop signs, and then are ticketed for it.

“Government is now, under contracts with the companies that operate these camera systems, allowing private companies to do law enforcement,” Hebert said.

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Two amendments were added to the version of the bill which passed. The cameras can only photograph the rear of the vehicle and not take pictures of those inside it. And the government agency involved cannot provide private companies with personal information, namely Social Security and driver’s license numbers.

“This is intended to protect people from identity theft,” Hebert said, adding that this form of traffic ticketing is new to Louisiana. “We have to strike a balance between upholding public safety and protecting private information.”

Sen. Nick Gautreaux, D-Meaux, supports the bill, stressing the need to protect individual’s privacy and from identity theft.

“These people could have their credit ruined over a traffic ticket they got,” he said.