Red Light & Speeding Cameras in Full Retreat Throughout Ohio

COAST, AFP team up to kill bad idea statewide

In 2008, Cincinnati became first major City to ban red light cameras in its Charter.

COAST and Americans for Prosperity’s Ohio Chapter have achieved more progress in their goal to eradicate red light and speeding cameras throughout Ohio.

Here’s a rundown:

• In Toledo, COAST sent local organizer Scott Ross to Toledo to spearhead the conclusion of the petition drive there. The petition drive is more than half way to conclusion and is proceeding well. COASTers Chris Finney, Dan Regenold and Kim Grant took a road trip to Toledo to help boost the effort.
• Governor Strickland’s initiative to place speeding cameras on State highways was stripped from the state budget bill.
• The City of Canton rejected Red Light Cameras in March of this year after opponents exposed the Mayor for accepting contributions from RedFlex, the company that installs and operates the devices.
• With COAST’s help, the close-knit community of Heath Ohio has launched a Charter Amendment to strike down Council’s implementation of a Red Light Camera program there.
• COAST traveled to Pickerington (south of Columbus) earlier this year to fight Red Light Cameras. Under threat of a Charter Amendment petition drive the Council there abandoned plans for Red Light Cameras in that City.
• COAST is working on organizing a 2010 drive in Dayton against Red Light Cameras. Local volunteers are enthusiastic in their support.

Pickerington Rethinks Red Light Cameras

"Councilman Brian Wisniewski, who has opposed them from the start, said crash data show there is no need for the cameras. In 2008, there were 102 crashes on Rt. 256 at four intersections -- including the I-70 interchange -- with five of them caused by running a red light, Wisniewski said. All but one of those accidents occurred at I-70, where the Ohio Department of Transportation will not allow the city to install a camera."

After voting to install cameras along their main drag, Pickerington's City Council has now dropped the discussion. See full article in The Columbus Dispatch. It's refreshing to see they're dealing with the issue on the basis of public safety, and not as a band-aid for reckless overspending.

Last year, Cincinnati's WeDemandAVote.com coalition petitioned to put a charter amendment on the ballot to prohibit the city from using them to detect traffic violations unless an officer is present. Voters approved it overwhelmingly.

Similar efforts to remove red-light cameras are underway in Toledo and Chillicothe.

Toledo Red Light Drive Gains Momentum

Drive for liberty expands throughout Ohio

The WeDemandAVote.Com coalition and COAST have taken the drive to ban Red Light Cameras to Toledo, and soon Pickerington, Ohio. Of course, that team banned Red Light Cameras forever in Cincinnati in 2008. The Toledo drive will present a Charter Amendment to ban the pernicious devices in their City, with the same verbiage as the Cincinnati amendment. Pickerington’s rebels propose a referendum to repeal a new ordinance that will enact the devices, anticipated for passage this month.