Warning period ends for speeders in Hubbard Township

HUBBARD — Speeders in Hubbard Township are in for a rude awakening.

A 15-day warning period for tickets issued as a result of a hand-held speeding camera ended Wednesday. Going forward, drivers will pay a fine ranging from $99 to $159 in nonconstruction zones.

A driver must be at least 11 miles per hour over the speed limit to receive the minimum fine and fines cannot be greater than what court costs would have been.

As is the case with the cameras debuted in the city of Youngstown this summer, the camera snaps a photo of the speeder’s license plate. The driver subsequently receives a civil citation in the mail.

Ohio legislation, which took effect in March, banned the use of unmanned speed cameras. So, the type of cameras used in Hubbard Township and Youngstown must be held by an officer in uniform, but the officer doesn’t need to pull someone over before issuing the driver a citation.

The township entered into a contract with Blue Line Solutions, a Tennessee-based company, for the camera and citations. Sixty-five percent of the fine revenue will go to the township and 35 percent will go to Blue Line Solutions.

Youngstown entered into a contract with Optotraffic of Landham, Md. for its cameras. Youngstown also collects 65 percent of the fine revenue.

Unless someone decides to appeal their citation, the township will not have to pay court costs and will therefore make more money, said township Police Chief Todd Coonce.

Critics have argued the speeding cameras amount to nothing more than a money grab for local governments. Coonce, however, said the primary goal of the cameras is to slow people down.

“Speeding is the No. 1 complaint that we get,” Coonce said. “My understanding of the Youngstown cameras is that they’ve worked. The word is out and people are slowing down.”