America’s Worst Speed Trap: 10,000 Tickets in 4 Weeks

Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Traffic camera in Heath, Ohio

Heath, Ohio, has a population of about 9,000 residents, but managed to wrack up more than 10,000 traffic violations in a single month. This disparity helps to explain the widespread anger felt across the small town after city officials approved the installation of traffic cameras at six intersections. The intent was to improve safety at key locations where people tend to speed or run red lights, but instead the city found itself awash in cash from the abundance of traffic tickets. Even after paying the vendor who installed the cameras, Heath officials had an $830,000 profit to apply to the city budget (which is only $14 million annually).

 
Outrage from motorists, however, has forced town leaders to adjust the program and require only a single $100 fine to cover multiple violations. Due to a delay in processing and mailing citations, many residents didn’t even know they had been caught breaking the law until a slew of tickets showed up all at once in the mail. Mayor Richard Waugh said he expects the amended program to yield only 400 citations a month and an additional $100,000 from fines each year.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
 
4 Weeks, 10,000 Traffic Tickets (by Josh Jarman, Columbus Dispatch)

Comments

Terry 14 years ago
What I think is sad is that the people are upset for being punished for breaking the law. Stop breaking traffic laws and the tickets will be gone! It is amazing to me how our society is into doing what I want and does not want to be held accountable for it's actions. The city could easily reduce taxes and at the same time reduce accidents
Itaewon 14 years ago
Take it from an American that lived 6 years in Italy and anything south of Rome is corruptible and the Carabineiri are by no means exempt. Furthermore, they could be better utlized in Afghanistan pulling their fair share as a NATO partner, but then again the Alpina is there and aren't allowed to fight. I bet I could get a good deal on a Barreta SC70...only dropped once and never been fired.
Giuliano 14 years ago
Keith is right. It is only a scam from the manufacturers of the cameras.In Italy the same thing happened and the Carabinieri (the best, uncorruptible police force in Europe)investigated hundreds of these installations and found that the yellow phase had been tampered with in order to create criminals out of perfectly decent drivers. They charghed for fraud the several mayors, town concil, local police chief, camera manufactures and their collective brothers. They ordered the towns to refund the monies paid and to include a letter of apology to the unfortunate motorists. This put paid to this vile practice once and for all. Long live the Carabinieri.
Isar 14 years ago
If people want to put an end to this evil plot, stop running red lights. It isn't rocket science.
NUNYADAMNBIZ 14 years ago
RANDALL REIHING, YOUR A DAMN IDIOT!
keith 14 years ago
How about the truth. The vendor puts the camera in for free as long as the yellow time is shortened ensuring more "violations"--- profits. What about when the public gets so knowledgeable about the quick yellow- ticket in the mail policy that paranoid drivers slam on the brakes and cause dangerous rear end collisions. Unsuspecting drivers and heavy trucks may not be able to stop in time for these newly artificially dangerous intersections. Camera vendors will not accept towns not tampering with yellow times. They say there are not enough violators to pay!!
Barefootcage 14 years ago
Many someones, actually all of us someone's nationwide need to forcefully tell politicians that WE, THE VOTING PUBLIC, ARE NOT THEIR PERSONAL ATM.
Randall Reihing 14 years ago
So, if enough people running red lights and speeding protest their fines for breaking the law, the law will be rescinded? Even when those laws are in the best interest of public safety? Is that how things work in Heath, Ohio?
Yahoo User 14 years ago
I was informed by another person that the cities pay the vendor FIRST, then they receive a portion of the remaining. Seems the red light photo operations are more of a benefit to the vendor than the city. The vendors of the red light photo and speeding photo are really pushing cash strapped municipalities to install these when the vendor is really the winner in the situation.
jsub 14 years ago
guess what folks - it's not a 'speed trap' if you're not speeding...pretty simple logic IMO...

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