Hamilton Still Using Photo Camera on OH-129?

[weatherphotographer]

Sounds like all of them might be outlawed statewide. Read the latest headlines

[ram2]

Originally Posted by ruteger

Putting it in the intended areas (school zones) just doesn't make enough money.

And we thought it was done for the safety of those precious little children.

[ram2]

Originally Posted by kjbrill

The only reason I can see if people go 10 mph below the limit is they feel guilty. Amazing insn't it how a deterrent like the Ford Escape brings prople to their knees even if they believe they are in the right.

Why do so many drivers drive 10mph under the speed limit on the freeway?

[ram2]

Originally Posted by kjbrill

You should be able to confront your accusor.

According to the US Constitution, you are supposed to be allowed to confront your accuser.

[ruteger]

Originally Posted by weatherphotographer

Sounds like all of them might be outlawed statewide. Read the latest headlines

Maybe not. Elmwood Place and New Miami's automated photo enforcement programs are both contracted with an outfit named Optotraffic. Those cameras are on trailers with tall booms and a separate vehicle tows them to their locations. This is why they essentially stay in the same place for long periods of time and rarely move.

OTOH, Hamilton's unmarked (which, in and of itself, should make it illegal, except it's owned by the company) Ford Escape belongs to a company named Redflex. It's a whole easier to simply drive the Ford Escape around to the most lucrative areas (with occasional placements in school zones to make it look good), and this is exactly what Hamilton does on a daily basis.

The most nefarious use of the Escape was when Hamilton would put it on the limited-access, heavily-traveled, westbound OH-129 (Veteran's Highway) downgrade as it crosses into the Hamilton city limits, changes to High Street, and the speed limit drops from 65mph to 35mph (20mph during school hours thanks to Garfield Middle School on Fair Avenue, a cross street located several hundred yards away). Even better was that they were doing it three times a week, including Saturdays. Hamilton raked in a lot of money on that one.

Disturbingly, the lawyer who is directly involved with the lawsuits, Mike Allen, was quoted last year in the local paper as saying that he was 'pleased' with Hamilton's photo enforcement program. It shows how much slicker Hamilton is about the whole process in that they personally invited Mike Allen to look at their scam to circumvent any issues before any lawsuits are initiated by the same guy who prevailed in Elmwood Place and (now) New Miami.

As to the Ohio bill to completely outlaw the cameras (or at least modify the way they're used), just last week, there was yet a 'third' hearing in the Ohio senate to 'further' debate the bill (it passed in the house by a two-thirds majority). At the rate they're going, it wouldn't surprise if it was simply ignored into oblivion by the senate.

[kjbrill]

Yes, the Ohio Senate may postpone it into oblivion. But what exactly is their reason to pass a state wide ban on speed cameras?

[Sarah Perry]

Originally Posted by kjbrill

Yes, the Ohio Senate may postpone it into oblivion. But what exactly is their reason to pass a state wide ban on speed cameras?

Probably to try to prevent the kind of thing that happened in Elmwood Place from happening elsewhere. The victimized motorists who were ticketed will probably not ever see a dime of the money that's owed them, because the village has run through with it and may file bankruptcy.