Laserfiche WebLink
Councilmember Baker acknowledged the potential challenges of a speed camera program and <br />also highlighted the data from the Centers for Disease Control which show that speed cameras <br />can reduce accidents and lower speeds. He acknowledgedthat there are appropriate and <br />inappropriate uses of speed cameras. <br />Mr. Crossman pointed out that the cost of tickets will mostly be borne by residents. The tickets <br />would be a civil penalty and would not assign points to a license. <br /> <br />Councilmember Baker emphasized that he is willing to inconvenience and upset residents who <br />insist on speeding. <br /> <br />Councilmember Shachner expressed support for the use of traffic cameras in school zones and in <br />other problem areas of the city. He remarked that traffic cameras are a deterrent and a tool that <br />can be used so that police can focus their efforts elsewhere. <br /> <br />Councilmember Shachner inquired about how traffic camera programs were established within <br />the Ohio communities that have them – whether by Council, the Mayor, or another approach. <br />Mr. Crossman did not have that information readily available. He explained how the <br />communities that administer traffic camera programs do so through an outside vendor that issues <br />the tickets. He expressed concern that the city may be locked into a contract even if the General <br />Assembly acts to prohibit these programs and that the revenue from the tickets ought to justify <br />the costs to pay the vendor and install each camera. <br />Councilmember Marx stated that the volume of resident complaints regarding speeding justify <br />the use of traffic cameras, particularly in school zones and main thoroughfares. <br />Through discussion it was established that the city’s existing cameras read license plates and can <br />be used for surveillance. They do not detect speed. <br />Director Vargo suggested that Council and the Administration use data to determine whether or <br />not speed cameras are necessary and to take into consideration the burdens, costs, and public <br />imposition. <br />Through discussion it was established that that the city’s speed monitoring signs track speed and <br />that data can be used to help inform future decision making. <br />Chair Baker noted that speed data is ultimately more important than citation data because it <br />shows behavior change. <br /> <br />Chief Fischer explained that traffic enforcement in the city has suffered due to Covid and low <br />staffing. Now that the police department isat full strength, he expressed a commitment to a zero- <br />tolerance approach to speeding. He provided the following data on speed citations for 2023: <br /> 491 total speed citations <br /> 171 school zone citations <br /> 81 citations issued by OT detail (including 34 in school zones) <br />2 <br /> <br /> <br />