Worst states for traffic tickets

 

Ohio has always had a thing for tickets. I remember when I was a kid and relatives came to Ky to visit from Ohio and every time every trip they got a ticket BEFORE they got out of Ohio.

Second Ohio City Votes to Ban Red Light Cameras
Cincinnati joins Steubenville as the second Ohio city to ban photo enforcement by referendum.

The residents of Cincinnati, Ohio made it clear Tuesday that photo enforcement is not welcome in the city. A majority of voters approved an amendment to the city charter prohibiting local officials from ever installing either red light cameras or speed cameras (view text). Referendum co-sponsor Josh Weitzman hopes his coalition's victory inspires other cities.

"We worked long an hard to win," Weitzman told TheNewspaper. "This election is further proof that people do not want to have traffic cameras. Politicians in cities across the country need to take note of this if they plan on getting re-elected."

Cincinnati city council members had been trying for the past four years to install the devices that promised to generate between $2 million and $12 million in annual revenue. Advocates were stopped in 2005 when former Mayor Charlie Luken vetoed a camera ordinance saying, "Let's be honest with the public -- we didn't think about this until we came up with a budget problem."

The push for red light cameras resumed at the end of that year when Mayor Mark Mallory was sworn in. A diverse group of political activists from all ends of the political spectrum banded together to form the "We Demand a Vote" coalition to stop the idea. Members include regional chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Republican Party, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, and others. The group received more than 10,000 signatures on a petition to put the subject of cameras on the ballot before the devices even had a chance to issue a single ticket. Political leaders quickly backed off their support of cameras after seeing public opinion on the matter.

In 2006, three out of every four voters in Steubenville chose to kick out speed cameras after the devices had issued $600,000 in citations. Over the past twelve years, voters in Anchorage, Alaska; Peoria, Arizona and Batavia, Illinois have also banned cameras.

I've yet to figure out how a camera keeps a wreck from happening.  

I have a question for those on this blog. Why the large amount of electronics for red light cameras? Could it be that the next thing will be speeding tickets by these same cameras? Could it be that there will be other forms of enforcement from these same cameras? Am I wrong or did the posted signs change from "traffic signals photo enforced" to "traffic laws photo enforced"? Is city government ready to spring another money making ambush on the citizens of Middletown?

Just one thing to say, Charter Amendment folks.  Time to say No and enough is enough.

Randy, I also wonder how much red light cameras had to do with our image and reputation. I have talked to people in both Cincinnati and Dayton who claim that they no longer come to Middletown because of the cameras. I hear Middletown say that they should stay away if they want to run red lights. Their answer is that the yellow light timing is so short, that Middletown is just trying to steal their money. I wonder if this hurt the mall, even though I think the owners did most of the damage. When the cameras were installed, MJ soundoff was full of people stating that they would no longer shop in Middletown. Anything that hurts Middletown's image, reputation, or keeps people from coming to town, should be looked at very carefully. And before anyone asks, no I have never gotten a red light ticket. My view is about what is best for the survival of Middletown. 

Nick, I agree completely with you, if something hurts Middletown then it should be looked into and maybe even changed. But I dont think all red lights should be timed at six seconds. It has to do with the speed limit on the road your driving on. If you are driving up central where the speed limit is 35 do you really need six seconds to stop? If you are doing the speed limit there is no way you would need six seconds to stop. I have some more proof of this and will post it in little bit, as for now I on my way out of the office for the day. And I have a poker game tonight. Any one on here play poker and ever looking for a nice friendly game?

Mike_Presta wrote: Randy, I hear that a couple of police detectives are looking for a poker game!!!

  ha ha ha Our is on the up and up. No house cut just a friendly game among friends.