Welcome to Boondocks, USA
Speed traps and dodgy traffic tickets are a well know problem in the US. In Georgia a few years ago the state put up warning billboards to warn motorists there was a speed trap ahead in south Georgia. In metro Atlanta a few years ago, Pine Mountain was operating a notorious, illegal speed trap. The county (DeKalb) made sure the local media pointed out the defendant could have the case moved from Pine Mountain muni courts to the county traffic court; a point most were not aware of. Needless to say the county court found most not guilty and those few that were found guilty paid the county not the city. That ended the Pine Mountain speed trap as a revenue source.
Depending on the state, using traffic court to basically fund the town is illegal. A possible challenge is to look at how much of the local budget is paid for by traffic fines versus tax income.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
