ODOT delays speed camera directive
Howland ends program, Girard to keep at it
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The director of the Ohio Department of Transportation placed on hold Thursday a directive ordering several local communities to remove their speed camera warning signs from state highways and interstates a day before today's deadline to remove the signs.
"Given the feedback and concerns we heard from local communities and law enforcement, we are allowing more time to review this policy before taking further action on existing signs and cameras. No new signs or cameras will be granted installation permission during this review period," states an email from Matt Bruning, press secretary for ODOT's central office.
Despite the directive, the city of Girard intended to leave the signs up and continue its handheld camera ticketing program even before ODOT put it on hold, said Girard Mayor James Melfi.
The city obtained a legal opinion that states the city has the right to post signs and enforce the law on any roadway within municipal limits, despite ODOT's assertion they alone can permit signs, Melfi said.
"Our street department has not taken down the signs and did not plan to," Melfi said. "Our law director is reviewing the opinion we've obtained."
Howland planned to end the township's handheld traffic camera ticket program today, and in light of the news from ODOT, still intends to shelve the program for now, said Darlene St. George, township administrator.
"I have asked our law director to call the legal representation for ODOT and to talk with him about what this means for us. We received a permit to put the signs up. And all I have in writing is a letter revoking the permit. We are just going to put our cameras on the shelf while we see how this plays out," St. George said.
Jerry Wray, the director of ODOT, sent notices in July to trustees and council members in Hubbard Township, Howland, Girard, Liberty, Weathersfield and Youngstown, ordering them to remove the signs from state property. But Ohio Revised Code states the ticketing cameras can't be operated in a community unless it first posts signs on all highways in the state highway system that are in the community.
Liberty is still reviewing how to proceed after receiving the letter, said Trustee Arnie Clebone. Calls to law directors in Weathersfield and Youngstown were not immediately returned Thursday.
Melfi said the city is budgeted to bring $1 million in revenue from the program this year, and said it is not generating as much money as it did when the program first began in 2016.
ODOT employees erected the signs for Howland after the state department granted the township a permit. St. George was in communication this week with a branch office to see if ODOT preferred to remove the signs themselves or if the township should in order to comply with the directive.
The letters sent out by ODOT also indicate several of the communities who were using the traffic cameras on state highways did not receive permits for them.
Girard, Liberty, Weathersfield and Youngstown did not have permits for their signs.
Hubbard and Howland townships had permits for the signs through ODOT. Hubbard Township's permits are for state Route 304, U.S. Route 62 and state Route 616. Howland's permits are for state Route 46 and state Route 82.
Mark Finamore, law director for Hubbard Township, said even though the township had permission to erect the signs, they chose not to pursue the speed camera program and won't be affected.