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LORDSTOWN -- Village council is reviewing whether to enter into a contract with Blue Line Solutions for speed cameras after receiving results from a recent study of many speeding vehicles in the community, including in school zones.
Glenn Branam with Blue Line Solutions of Tennessee and a retired poßlice sergeant from Columbus, told council members Monday that the company will work with the village to get the program started if there is interest in proceeding.
Police Capt. Chris Bordanaro said a safety committee meeting took place and Blue Line Solutions conducted a five-day speed study in the village focusing on Salt Springs Road where the school zone is, and both directions of state Route 45.
Branam said a radar box was used to track the number of vehicles and those vehicles going faster than the speed limit in a 24-hour period for five days.
He said Salt Springs Road at Tod Avenue near the schools had 10,385 vehicles over five days, with total speeding violations of 1,982 vehicles, which is 20% of vehicles driving 11 or more miles over the posted speed limit in the school zone.
He said of the vehicles speeding, 931 were 11 to 14 mph over, 368 were 15 to 20 mph over and 683 were 21 or more mph over.
Branam said as for Tod Avenue near Salt Springs, there were 10,010 vehicles over five days with 3,767 speeding, which is 37 to 40% of the vehicles.
"I have done many speed studies in Ohio and that is high. There is no reason to be speeding in a school zone. If you are, you deserve a ticket," Branam said.
He said of the 3,767 speeders, 1,600 were 11 to 14 mph over the speed limit, 1,221 were 15 to 20 mph over and 946 were 21 or more mph over.
SHARE CITATION FINES
Branam said the village would run the program and Blue Line would receive 40% of each citation. He said the company processes and sends out the citations.
Branam said the 60% the village receives on each citation can be used for safety improvements in the village.
He said if the village approves the contract, photo enforcement signs will be posted to let motorists know what is in place and then for a one-month period, all citations for speeding will be warnings. Branam said fines are $100 for 11 or more mph over the speed limit, $125 for 11 to 19 mph over and $150 for 20 mph and over.
"This is a safety program and we expect to reduce speeding by 80 to 90%," Branam said, noting the company has agreements with Girard and Youngstown.
"Based on the numbers in the study, there are a lot of people speeding. There have been people in the school zone going more than 30 mph over the speed limit," Bordonaro said.
Mayor Jackie Woodward said the village is focusing on enhancing safety in the school zone, noting there is a limited number of police officers on staff.
"The cameras would help free up officers during school zone times," she said.
Woodward said the safety committee will review the proposal from Blue Line and make a recommendation to council.