BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Those red light traffic cameras that are rather unpopular in New Jersey are also good at catching traffic violators in other states. Like the Post Office.

In the city of East Cleveland, cameras have caught Postal Service trucks violating traffic laws seven times, according to Cleveland.com. But an attorney for the United States Postal Service claims the USPS drivers have federal immunity from state and local traffic laws.

U.S. Postal Service spokesman David G. Van Allen said, according to WJW Fox 8, “Employees of the United States Postal Service are subject to obeying local traffic laws and ordinances just like any other citizen. However, the Postal Service cannot legally be billed for any traffic violation fines incurred by its employees. There is no legal mechanism for transference of liability from the Postal Service to an employee protected under collective bargaining agreements.”

Yahoo! News reported that in a letter sent to East Cleveland and American Traffic Solutions, the company that operates the cameras, Postal Service attorney Jennifer Breslin says two school-zone speeding tickets and five red-light violations by postal trucks should be overlooked. “In providing mail service across the country, the Postal Service attempts to work within local and state laws and regulations, when feasible,” Breslin wrote.

ATS attorney George Hittner had his own response to Breslin. He said, according to CBS Cleveland, “By attempting to hide behind an immunity claim, you are aiding and abetting your drivers in their blatant disregard for the traffic laws in East Cleveland, which have endangered other drivers, pedestrians and school children.”

The tickets add up to about $690. Hittner said the tickets would not be waived.

East Cleveland Mayor Gary Norton said he was unaware of the USPS exemption to traffic laws.  “We didn't know they were above the law," Norton said, according to newsnet5.com. "If if they are able to speed through school zones and endanger children and run red lights, you'd at least think we'd get our mail faster."