Suit challenges Missouri law limiting municipal court fines

ST. LOUIS -- A dozen St. Louis-area municipalities sued the state Thursday, hoping to halt what they consider an unconstitutional new law that limits Missouri cities' ability to profit from minor traffic tickets and court fines.

The lawsuit, filed in Cole County, Missouri, challenges the 4-month-old measure that was the first significant step taken by state lawmakers to address concerns raised after the August 2014 police shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, a St. Louis suburb.

A U.S. Justice Department report in March cited racial bias and profiling in Ferguson's policing as well as a profit-driven municipal court system that frequently targeted blacks. Since then, the practices of many municipal court systems throughout the St. Louis area came under increased scrutiny.

The lawsuit's plaintiffs are Bel-Nor, Bel-Ridge, Cool Valley, Glen Echo Park, Moline Acres, Normandy, Northwoods, Pagedale, Uplands Park, Velda Village Hills, Vinita Park and Wellston, along with the mayors of Normandy and Pagedale.