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Ohio Supreme Court finds traffic devices legal; four now in use after start of school
By Katie Byard
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008
The three traffic cameras in Akron were busy the first two weeks of school — ringing up 807 speeding tickets.
Ohio Supreme Court justices in January said the cameras — used across the state to catch speeders — are legal.
Speeders caught by the controversial cameras in Akron pay a $100 fine.
The city began using the contraptions on a trial basis in 2005.
Last year, 471 violations were issued in the first two weeks of school.
Nestor Traffic Systems, which operates the cameras, receives $19 per ticket. The city receives the balance. Police tell Nestor where to put the cameras, focusing on heavily trafficked areas.
The city took in $815,000 last year in revenue from the camera-generated tickets.
The money is used to defray the cost of crossing guards, stepped-up enforcement in school zones and related efforts, said Diane Miller-Dawson, the city's finance director.
A public outcry resulted when Akron first began using the cameras in 2005, as about 3,000 motorists received speeding tickets in the mail in the first few weeks.
Tuesday marked the first day of this school year that four cameras were in operation.
Bill Schleter, a customer-relations manager with Nestor, headquartered in Rhode Island, predicted that the number of tickets would decrease as drivers become aware they're being watched.
''We'll definitely start to see some tapering off,'' he said, once people are reminded the school year has begun.
Akron police officer Richard McPherson said the cameras are moved periodically from school zone to school zone.
McPherson said the number of tickets can vary depending on weather, camera location and other factors.
''Some days it's the full moon,'' he said. ''People just speed more than they do on another day. Nobody knows why.''
The Ohio Supreme Justices ruled unanimously that an Ohio municipality does not exceed its ''home-rule authority'' when it uses traffic cameras.
Whether the cameras are in conflict with federal law, however, has yet to be determined in U.S. District Court in Akron.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com
The three traffic cameras in Akron were busy the first two weeks of school — ringing up 807 speeding tickets.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Coal Pit Hollow, WV
Posted 04:40 AM, 09/10/2008
**The city began using the contraptions on a trial basis in 2005.** LOL "contraptions" - that's a pretty good description of the speed cameras; remember, folks, one can't say "contraption" without the word "trap", as in "speed trap". ;)
Posted 06:47 AM, 09/10/2008
people just need to slow down around the schools
Posted 06:56 AM, 09/10/2008
U speed U pay.
Akron, OH
Posted 06:59 AM, 09/10/2008
Slow down around schools because it is the right thing to do. I vividly remember going 17 in a school zone, and a child darted in front of my car, and only my lightn
Wadsworth, OH
Posted 07:11 AM, 09/10/2008
If a story falls on Ohio.com and nobody is around to discuss it, is it really a story?
Wadsworth, OH
Posted 07:12 AM, 09/10/2008
The only kind of people that like speed cameras are lemmings and sheeple.
Posted 08:19 AM, 09/10/2008
You have to drive fast through the school zone or you will get robbed,shot and your car jacked. I think Akron government has failed to protect the citizens but the democrates know how to take money from your pocket
Posted 08:24 AM, 09/10/2008
{pokes head out of forum rubble}What happened?! I like speeding cameras just like I like this new forum design & having a sharp stick rammed in my eye, Warm regards, Phil Landers
Posted 08:44 AM, 09/10/2008
The cameras do not protect the right of due process, i was a victim of one in my home state, former wife driving too fast in my borrowed car. Guess who got the fine????
Posted 10:49 AM, 09/10/2008
Where are the cameras? Anyone know the schools they are set up by? I haven't seen one.
Posted 01:02 PM, 09/10/2008
Civil fines for traffic violations are wrong. If someone uses your car and gets one of these tickets, you are screwed. Traffic tickets need to be given by real cops who can verify your ID after observing the violation.
somewhere near you, OH
Posted 04:22 PM, 09/12/2008
This is nothing a little spray paint won't fix. Put an end to this money grab.
