Camera citations rise amid legal battle

Assocoiated Press

DAYTON

There’s been a jump in drivers getting speeding citations from traffic cameras in an Ohio city that’s in the middle of the legal battle over automated photo enforcement.

The Dayton Daily News reported that the city of Dayton saw a 29 percent increase in speed camera tickets in the first three months of this year over the same period last year.

“There is still confusion with the public,” Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl said. “Some citizens didn’t realize they are still lawful and still in operation.”

After all, the legislature passed legislation sharply restricting their use late last year. But the law didn’t take effect until late March.

Then several cities sued to try to block the new law, with Toledo winning a temporary injunction and Dayton a permanent one.

Akron kept the cameras on, but other cities, including Columbus, halted use pending litigation outcomes. Dayton had turned its off for a short time on the first day the law was in effect, while nearby communities in southwestern Ohio suspended camera use, adding to confusion.

Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Barbara Gorman on April 3 granted a permanent injunction to Dayton against the new rules including requiring that police officers be present when cameras are used. She said the law violated local “home-rule” powers granted in Ohio’s constitution.

The state is appealing her ruling.

The Ohio Supreme Court has twice upheld automated camera enforcement, which draws criticism from opponents who say it tramples motorists’ rights and is mainly used to raise revenue. Backers say they make streets safer and stretch police resources.

The Daily News reported that from Jan. 1 to March 27 last year, Dayton speeding cameras issued 8,160 tickets. In the same period this year, the number was 10,523.

Red-light citations also rose, from 1,821 to 2,312.

A Dayton police detective, Jason Ward, said he gets around five calls a day from motorists who believe the cameras aren’t issuing tickets.

“We tell them it’s been all over the news that they are back on,” Ward said. “We have been pro-active in letting the public know the cameras are on. I don’t know what else we can do.”