Larry Zukerman, managing partner at Zukerman, Daiker and Lear in Cleveland, authored this guest column in the Cleveland Jewish News explaining the Ohio Supreme Court’s July 2017 ruling that struck down state laws restricting municipal traffic and red-light cameras.
In City of Dayton v. State, 2017 Ohio 6909, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that three 2014 state laws limiting camera use were unconstitutional. Those laws had required an officer to be physically present with a camera for a ticket to issue, restricted camera-based speeding tickets to violations exceeding 6 mph over the limit, and mandated safety studies before camera deployment. The court found these laws violated “home-rule powers” under the Ohio Constitution because they did not regulate the conduct of citizens but merely restricted local authorities’ operational choices.
Zukerman explains the practical consequence: traffic and red-light cameras, which had largely been pulled back under the 2014 restrictions, are likely to return in force to Ohio municipalities. His advice to drivers: “always follow the traffic laws when driving. If you drive with a lead foot however, then I suggest that you slow down or that you drive with a smile… because you’re likely to be on camera.”
Read the full article here: https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/features/special_sections/legal_affairs/hey-drivers-here-s-news-flash-smile-you-re-on-camera/article_9907a312-8383-11e7-9368-9bbab6fa8470.html
