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Ohio Senate Votes to Ban Speed Cameras
Ohio Senate adopts partial ban on speed cameras and restrictions on red light cameras.

The Ohio state Senate voted 18-13 yesterday to ban speed cameras and limit the ability of cities to profit from red light cameras. Senator Jeffry Armbruster (R-North Ridgeville) engineered the complicated compromise, reviving the effort to limit camera ticketing that had languished in the upper chamber for a year and a half.

In May last year the state House adopted an effective ban on both red light and speed cameras by a 72-23 margin. Representative Jim Raussen (R-Springdale) introduced the bill after seeing evidence that the devices lead to more, not fewer, collisions.

The new Senate version scales back Raussen's bill and allows the use of permanent speed cameras in school zones during school hours. Cameras could be used on other streets only if an officer personally pulls over the motorist and directly issues the ticket at the time of the offense.

Red light cameras will be authorized, but the most unique provision in the measure forces cities to monitor the accident history at each intersection using the devices. Cameras may not mail out citations from any location that sees a net increase in accidents after a year of use. The state of Virginia and Washington, DC both documented a large increase in the number of accidents where cameras were used.

Another provision prohibits cities from using intersections that have yellow signal times shorter than other similar intersections in the area. Cities will have sixty days to eliminate contingent fee contract arrangements that allow vendors to keep more money if they are able to issue more tickets. A similar provision enacted into law in California is routinely ignored by photo enforcement vendors and cities that have adopted "no risk" contract arrangements.

To protect the due process rights of motorists, the legislation places the burden of proof on cities and allows registered vehicle owners to mail a statement denying that they were driving the car at the time of the alleged offense. Cities may not use photographs of drivers to refute such statements.

The state House must now consider the compromise language.

In May last year the state House adopted an effective ban on both red light and speed cameras by a 72-23 margin. Representative Jim Raussen (R-Springdale) introduced the bill after seeing evidence that the devices lead to more, not fewer, collisions.

Do we know what the evidence is?