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Editor
On Dec. 5, I was the lucky recipient of a Liverpool Township speeding ticket. I was unaware of such infraction until about a week later when I received a ticket in the mail. I never saw the presence of any officer or patrol car. I am not even sure where the violation occurred.
When I was younger (I am 51) police were to serve and protect. Part of this service was a visible presence to deter crime, slow speeding traffic and interact with the community. Not anymore. Somewhere on Route 7 an officer hides behind some structure to shoot a vehicle from behind. I was provided a picture showing such. How does this deter breaking the law? Unknown, I continued to drive in the same manner until I returned home.
Had I been speeding excessively would the officer even gotten off his behind to pursue, or would that have been too much of an inconvenience to the money generation? Let's be honest and at least admit this has nothing to do with public safety.
In a Sept. 8 Morning Journal article, Chief John Lane said there had been a 13 percent decrease in accidents in the four months city police used traffic cameras with an 85 percent drop in injuries. In the same article it was reported that according to the Ohio Cancer Incidence Surveillance System there were 125 cancer incidents in the city in 1999, which dropped to 47 in 2016. Should we also attribute this to the cameras?
A March 2 Journal article noted Blue Line Solutions would provide all equipment for the program and pay the salaries and pension costs for officers who operate the cameras. The city would receive 60 percent of ticket revenue.
Service-Safety Director Brian Allen said the idea behind the traffic cams is public safety but added, "With BLS funding the officers' overtime and pension costs, it took away those problems I had." So much for not being about generating revenue.
In the same article it was stated, "Drivers will be permitted to travel 10 mph over the posted speed limit before a ticket will be issued, except in school zones, where six miles over the posted speed limit will be allowed. That threshold can actually be set differently for every street if need be."
The ticket I received states I was going 65 in a 55 zone. Having graduated from Minerva my calculations work out to a 10 mph difference. I guess the $100 revenue trumps the 10 mph limit stated.
I paid my fine, but let's be honest and admit this is nothing more than a "hide" and money grab from unsuspecting motorists. I think the most honest statement came in the March 2 article where Allen said, "As long as it pays for itself and is beneficial to the company and the city, I can see it going on for quite a while."
I wonder how many others have been shot from behind from a hiding officer for this revenue generation scheme.
Kent Salmen
Kensington