The Louisiana House turned back a proposal to permit cities to set up cameras to monitor speeding, stop-sign and traffic-signal violations and issue fines from those snapshots.

House lawmakers killed the bill, sponsored by Rep. Edwin Murray, D-New Orleans, with a 71-24 vote May 6.

Rep. Charlie DeWitt, D-Lecompte, told The Times-Picayune that Murray’s bill was designed to encourage “a speed trap state” and make money for cities with populations of 20,000 or more. Murray denied the accusation, stating the bill was filed as a safety issue.

The measure, HB1078, would have permitted cities with 20,000 or more residents to set up cameras at intersections to photograph offending vehicles. Police could issue $50 tickets to the vehicle’s owner.

The ticket would have detailed the time and place of the offense, the violation and the vehicle registration number, as well as a copy of the picture showing the violation.