Ohio high court orders city vote on cameras

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

The Ohio Supreme Court has ordered a Cleveland suburb to let voters have their say on a proposed ban on traffic cameras.

The Northeast Ohio Media Group reported that justices voted 6-0 Friday to require the city of Maple Heights to put the charter proposal on the November ballot. The city had contended it followed proper procedures by sending the measure through committee and giving it three readings.

The Supreme Court said the Ohio Constitution imposes a mandatory duty upon city councils to submit charter amendment initiatives “forthwith.” The committee pushing a petition on traffic cameras had asked the court to make the city take action.

Traffic cameras are facing a number of legal and political challenges across the state. The justices heard arguments on traffic cameras in June in a Toledo case and are expected to rule sometime this year. Meanwhile, some legislators want to pass a bill to ban or sharply restrict camera use.

Local authorities say the traffic camera enforcement of speed limits and red lights stretches police resources and makes communities safer. Critics say they are aimed primarily at raising revenues and often violate motorists’ rights.

The Committee for Charter Amendment Petition to Limit the Use of Photo-Monitoring Devices in the City of Maple Heights is entitled to recover reasonable fees in the case, the Supreme Court said.

The justices found that the city council could have speeded things up to make sure the camera issue is on Nov. 4 general election ballots.