Columbus won’t re-install red-light cameras

By Jim Siegel and Andrew Keiper, The Columbus Dispatch

COLUMBUS – Columbus won’t re-install red-light cameras but Dayton might after the Ohio Supreme Court gave them the green light Wednesday.

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The justices ruled 5-2 that an Ohio law designed to significantly curtail the use of red-light and speed cameras violated cities’ home-rule authority.

Despite the decision, the city of Columbus has no plans to pursue red-light cameras, Cathy Collins, assistant director of public safety, said. Before dismantling the program, Columbus had 44 cameras positioned at 38 intersections.

The topic is a bit of a lightning rod because a former lobbyist in Columbus City Hall, John Raphael, served about a year in prison for extorting campaign contributions from Redflex, the city’s red-light-camera vendor, to city officials. He was moved to a halfway house earlier this month.

The case is based on a Dayton lawsuit, though other cities, including Columbus, Akron, Dayton and Toledo, filed similar challenges.

“Citizens have been asking for red light cameras to come back so we can make our neighborhoods safer and reduce accidents,” said Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, who praised the ruling.

Dayton’s law director, Barbara Doseck, said, “What will be interesting to see will be the legislature’s response to this.” She expects some legislative attempt to circumvent the ruling.