License plate reader program refused by House lawmakers

BATON ROUGE - Lawmakers in the House have spurned a proposed program that would allow law enforcement agencies to automatically scan motorists' license plates.The House and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 7-3 Tuesday to kill the Senate-backed bill by Lake Charles Sen. Ronnie Johns, a Republican.Johns had previously tried to launch the program, only to have former Gov. Bobby Jindal veto the bill.Supporters said the pilot program - with nine parishes participating - was aimed at catching car