Ohio House committee approves traffic camera ban
COLUMBUS, Ohio – An Ohio House committee has approved a measure that would ban red-light cameras across the state.
The Transportation, Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee Tuesday voted 9-4 to move the measure to the full House for consideration.
The bill bans police from using a camera to determine whether motorists have run red lights or been speeding.
Proponents of the bill say cameras have been abused by certain municipalities who see the devices as revenue generators.
Supporters of the cameras say studies show the machines have helped reduce traffic accidents. They also say the cameras free up law enforcement officers to pursue more serious crimes.
More than a dozen Ohio cities use traffic-enforcement cameras. Cleveland collected nearly $6 million from them last year.
Camera-generated tickets are civil infractions.