Cleveland's Traffic Cameras

(Columbus, Ohio) The Ohio House yesterday passed proposed rules which would make traffic cameras valueless. The legislation would essentially require that all traffic camera locations to be manned by a police officer to verify who was actually driving offending vehicles and to issue tickets.

In full-pucker mode, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson expressed outrage and threatened a lawsuit to overturn the new law. Jackson asserted that the new legislation is contrary to the home rule provisions of the Ohio Constitution.

Legislative reform was drafted due to accusations that Cleveland's traffic cameras were a naked cash cow fleecing the public. City officials deny that the traffic cameras have anything to do with money and contend that the system is for public safety.

Of course, when someone says it's not about the money, everyone knows it's about the money.

The Ohio Senate and Gov. Taft will have to give their okey-dokeys for the proposal to become law.