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ELO should wait for clearer picture of traffic cam issue

The city of East Liverpool seems to be going full-speed ahead with installing a portable photo-laser speed enforcement system. In fact, it could be in place by month’s end.

It might be wise, however, if city officials would slow down and wait for a decision from the Ohio Supreme Court on the constitutionality of a state law restricting their use.

Back in 2014, the Ohio legislature enacted a law requiring, among other things, that police officers be stationed at the cameras. Many cities cited the cost of placing an officer at every camera as defeating their intention of providing safety with fewer police while at the same time generating revenue to make up for state budget cuts.

East Liverpool’s proposed contract with Blue Line Solutions will include the cost of an officer to operate the hand-held camera to capture the speed of passing vehicles, so the city will be in compliance with that provision of the law if it is upheld.

At issue in the lawsuit filed by the city of Dayton is whether the state law is unconstitutional because it violates the Ohio Constitution’s protections of home rule power.

Meanwhile, companies providing the traffic cams are urging municipalities to agree to install the cameras without waiting for the court to decide this case, and East Liverpool appears to forging ahead, too. Council voted to authorize the preparation of the ordinance to approve the contract last week.

Wouldn’t it be better to wait on a decision from the court which should be forthcoming in the next few months? The court decision could eliminate the need for a police officer to man the camera and thereby reduce the overall cost of the program. This could give the city the leverage to negotiate for a bigger piece of the ticket revenue. Blue Line Solutions traditionally gets 40 percent of the revenue while the community gets 60 percent.

If safety really is the primary reason for installing the cameras, waiting until the issue is resolved in the courts shouldn’t be a problem.

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