×

This Brice is not right

Be very, very certain your vehicle registration is up to date if you are planning to travel through Brice, Ohio, in the near future. If it is not, it could cost you $750.

Yes, $750. That, according to a state legislator, is the average cost of a ticket Brice police hand out for expired vehicle registration tags. Similarly outrageous practices accompany tickets issued for other traffic violations.

Yes, it is outrageous. Apparently officials in Brice, a community of fewer than 200 people near Columbus, think socking it to motorists is a good way of balancing the books.

To their credit, General Assembly members disagree. State House of Representatives members already have approved a bill that would end the abuse. It would require municipal or county courts to adjudicate tickets and collect fines for villages without mayor’s courts. Brice’s lone police officer uses a civil law system to ticket motorists.

State senators should approve the bill, too. Legislators should make it clear fines for traffic violations are intended to deter offenses, not enrich small towns – often at the expense of people who live in them.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today