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Ohio |
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1/8/07-In his final act as governor, Bob Taft vetoed a bill that would have imposed restrictions on the use of automated cameras at intersections throughout the state.
Taft vetoed the bill Jan. 5 - two days before he left office. The veto cannot be overridden because the Legislature that approved the bill adjourned at the end of 2006.
HB56 would have effectively banned cameras in the state used to catch speeders, unless they are posted in active school zones with flashing yellow lights.
It also would have allowed vehicle owners who receive citations in the mail to avoid paying fines by signing affidavits that they weren't driving at the time. Owners of vehicles wouldn't have been required to identify who was behind the wheel.
A provision in the bill required cities to identify offending drivers without using photographs from the cameras.
Taft said the bill violated cities' rights to self govern.
"I can discern no strong public policy that warrants this sweeping preemption of local control over our local streets," Taft said in his veto message.
The bill also prohibited the use of portable cameras, as well as ended the practice of paying camera vendors a portion of the fine amount. Instead, vendors would have received flat-rate contracts.
The effort to ban traffic cameras can be brought back before lawmakers for the session that began Jan. 2.
12/14/06-A bill to impose restrictions on the use of automated cameras at intersections throughout Ohio is headed to Gov. Bob Taft's desk. The House voted 67-30 Dec. 12 to approve a bill that would effectively ban cameras in the state used to catch speeders, unless they are posted in active school zones with flashing yellow lights. The Senate approved the bill earlier this month. Sponsored by Rep. Jim Raussen, R-Springdale, HB56 also would allow vehicle owners who receive citations in the mail to avoid paying fines by signing affidavits that they weren't driving at the time. Owners of vehicles wouldn't be required to identify who was behind the wheel. A provision in the bill would require cities to identify offending drivers without using photographs from the cameras. The bill also would prohibit the use of portable cameras, as well as end the practice of paying camera vendors a portion of the fine amount. Instead, vendors would receive flat-rate contracts. For bill status, call (614) 466-8842. In Ohio, call 1-800-282-0253.
12/7/06-The Senate voted 20-11 Wednesday, Dec. 6, to approve a bill that would effectively ban cameras in the state used to catch speeders, unless they are posted in active school zones with flashing yellow lights. Cameras used to track red light runners wouldn’t be affected.
The bill’s next stop is the House for approval of changes. If approved there, HB56 would move to Gov. Bob Taft’s office.
Removed from the bill was a provision the House previously approved to require a police officer to be present to personally witness a speeding violation captured on camera.
Sponsored by Rep. Jim Raussen, R-Springfield, the bill would prohibit the use of portable cameras, as well as end the practice of paying camera vendors a portion of the fine amount. Instead, vendors would receive flat-rate contracts.
A provision in the bill is intended to address concerns that the cameras do more harm than good. It would require that if, after 12 months, accidents don’t decrease at intersections with the cameras, they must be removed.
For bill status, call (614) 466-8842. In Ohio, call 1-800-282-0253.
6/26/06-The Senate Highways and Transportation Committee approved a bill that would effectively ban cameras in the state used to catch speeders and reduce the amount of control local jurisdictions have on the operation of red-light cameras. Its next stop is the Senate floor. If approved there, the bill would head back to the House for a final vote before moving to Gov. Bob Taft’s office.
The bill initially called for an out-right ban of red-light cameras. The transportation panel, however, opted to remove some of the profit incentives to use the devices.
Sponsored by Rep. Jim Raussen, R-Springfield, HB56 prohibits the use of speed cameras, which currently are operated entirely at the discretion of local authorities. Police officers would be required to witness speeding violations and personally issue tickets to the offending drivers at the time of the incident.
The bill also would end the practice of paying camera vendors a portion of the fine amount. Instead, vendors would receive flat-rate contracts.
A provision in the bill is intended to address concerns that the cameras do more harm that good. It would require that if, after 24 months, accidents don’t decrease at intersections with the cameras, they must be removed.
For bill status, call (614) 466-8842. In Ohio, call 1-800-282-0253.
4/14/06-A bill in the Senate Transportation Committee would ban the use of automated cameras.
Sponsored by Rep. Jim Raussen, R-Springdale, HB56 would require police to prove the owner of a vehicle was behind the wheel when it was found in violation. It passed the House in May 2005.
It also would prohibit using speed or red-light running cameras for anything other than railroad crossing and school zone enforcement, unless a police officer was present.
A provision in the bill would require that if, after 24 months, accidents don’t decrease at intersections with the cameras, they must be removed or used only when an officer is present.
The bill is expected to get a hearing in May. If the bill wins support in the Senate, it would head back to the House for approval of changes before heading to Gov. Bob Taft’s desk.
For bill status, call (614) 466-8842. In Ohio, call 1-800-282-0253.
Click here to read the 2005 legislative updates for HB56.
Taft vetoed the bill Jan. 5 - two days before he left office. The veto cannot be overridden because the Legislature that approved the bill adjourned at the end of 2006.
HB56 would have effectively banned cameras in the state used to catch speeders, unless they are posted in active school zones with flashing yellow lights.
It also would have allowed vehicle owners who receive citations in the mail to avoid paying fines by signing affidavits that they weren't driving at the time. Owners of vehicles wouldn't have been required to identify who was behind the wheel.
A provision in the bill required cities to identify offending drivers without using photographs from the cameras.
Taft said the bill violated cities' rights to self govern.
"I can discern no strong public policy that warrants this sweeping preemption of local control over our local streets," Taft said in his veto message.
The bill also prohibited the use of portable cameras, as well as ended the practice of paying camera vendors a portion of the fine amount. Instead, vendors would have received flat-rate contracts.
The effort to ban traffic cameras can be brought back before lawmakers for the session that began Jan. 2.
12/14/06-A bill to impose restrictions on the use of automated cameras at intersections throughout Ohio is headed to Gov. Bob Taft's desk. The House voted 67-30 Dec. 12 to approve a bill that would effectively ban cameras in the state used to catch speeders, unless they are posted in active school zones with flashing yellow lights. The Senate approved the bill earlier this month. Sponsored by Rep. Jim Raussen, R-Springdale, HB56 also would allow vehicle owners who receive citations in the mail to avoid paying fines by signing affidavits that they weren't driving at the time. Owners of vehicles wouldn't be required to identify who was behind the wheel. A provision in the bill would require cities to identify offending drivers without using photographs from the cameras. The bill also would prohibit the use of portable cameras, as well as end the practice of paying camera vendors a portion of the fine amount. Instead, vendors would receive flat-rate contracts. For bill status, call (614) 466-8842. In Ohio, call 1-800-282-0253.
12/7/06-The Senate voted 20-11 Wednesday, Dec. 6, to approve a bill that would effectively ban cameras in the state used to catch speeders, unless they are posted in active school zones with flashing yellow lights. Cameras used to track red light runners wouldn’t be affected.
The bill’s next stop is the House for approval of changes. If approved there, HB56 would move to Gov. Bob Taft’s office.
Removed from the bill was a provision the House previously approved to require a police officer to be present to personally witness a speeding violation captured on camera.
Sponsored by Rep. Jim Raussen, R-Springfield, the bill would prohibit the use of portable cameras, as well as end the practice of paying camera vendors a portion of the fine amount. Instead, vendors would receive flat-rate contracts.
A provision in the bill is intended to address concerns that the cameras do more harm than good. It would require that if, after 12 months, accidents don’t decrease at intersections with the cameras, they must be removed.
For bill status, call (614) 466-8842. In Ohio, call 1-800-282-0253.
6/26/06-The Senate Highways and Transportation Committee approved a bill that would effectively ban cameras in the state used to catch speeders and reduce the amount of control local jurisdictions have on the operation of red-light cameras. Its next stop is the Senate floor. If approved there, the bill would head back to the House for a final vote before moving to Gov. Bob Taft’s office.
The bill initially called for an out-right ban of red-light cameras. The transportation panel, however, opted to remove some of the profit incentives to use the devices.
Sponsored by Rep. Jim Raussen, R-Springfield, HB56 prohibits the use of speed cameras, which currently are operated entirely at the discretion of local authorities. Police officers would be required to witness speeding violations and personally issue tickets to the offending drivers at the time of the incident.
The bill also would end the practice of paying camera vendors a portion of the fine amount. Instead, vendors would receive flat-rate contracts.
A provision in the bill is intended to address concerns that the cameras do more harm that good. It would require that if, after 24 months, accidents don’t decrease at intersections with the cameras, they must be removed.
For bill status, call (614) 466-8842. In Ohio, call 1-800-282-0253.
4/14/06-A bill in the Senate Transportation Committee would ban the use of automated cameras.
Sponsored by Rep. Jim Raussen, R-Springdale, HB56 would require police to prove the owner of a vehicle was behind the wheel when it was found in violation. It passed the House in May 2005.
It also would prohibit using speed or red-light running cameras for anything other than railroad crossing and school zone enforcement, unless a police officer was present.
A provision in the bill would require that if, after 24 months, accidents don’t decrease at intersections with the cameras, they must be removed or used only when an officer is present.
The bill is expected to get a hearing in May. If the bill wins support in the Senate, it would head back to the House for approval of changes before heading to Gov. Bob Taft’s desk.
For bill status, call (614) 466-8842. In Ohio, call 1-800-282-0253.
Click here to read the 2005 legislative updates for HB56.