The Ohio Supreme Court recently ruled that the collection of fines from speeding drivers by using certain types of electronic devices is not permissible. Many municipalities throughout the state were using cameras as speed detection devices, and many people believed this resulted in unfair and unreasonable amounts of fines collected from drivers. Despite the judicial ruling, many towns and cities continue to use these devices.
Is it just a cash grab?
The Court ruled that local governments that use speed cameras will lose a portion of their tax dollars. This has not been a deterrent as many places collect millions in speeding fines from drivers and only lose a small portion of their tax dollars. A report shows that one city collected over $13 million in speeding fines from 2020 to 2022, yet the local government only lost $6,700 in tax money.
Some state leaders have been working diligently to prevent the use of the cameras. They say they are unfair and are simply a cash grab for a local government. Legislative efforts are underway that, if passed, would ban the use of speed-detection cameras throughout the state.
Fighting a traffic ticket
A speeding ticket in Ohio can result in exorbitant fines, higher insurance rates and other consequences. While it may seem simpler to just pay the fees and move forward, this is not always the most prudent course of action. There are times when it may be most appropriate for a driver to fight the ticket and seek to avoid the imposition of fines.
