Go around northeast Ohio

[Jakm]

A little rant, a fair warning and some incredible numbers. I’ll start with the rant which is about a speed camera citation issued in the Youngstown,Ohio area and mailed to my home in Conway,Sc. I grew up, worked and retired in a small town in western Pennsylvania exit 53 of I-80. Anytime the DW wanted to go on shopping trip we would head an hour west to the Niles, Ohio Eastwood Mall and the Youngstown Boardman Mall. I could drop her at the mall and I’d go check out the area pawnshops, the local Triumph/Norton dealer and my favorite place Star Supply which is a surplus store with everything from Jeep parts to windows and doors to industrial discards. In my 60+ years of driving I’ve never had 1 speeding ticket. Fast forward to present day and we’re now South Carolina residents licensed and registered. In 2018 we went back north for a summer vacation to visit friends and family. The wife and I along with another couple went to Youngstown for a day trip. We returned home to Conway 3 weeks later to find a speed camera citation in the mailbox clearly showing my vehicle and my South Carolina license plate. I regrettably paid with the only recourse would be a court appearance. Fast forward again to present time, we just returned home from a trip to Pennsylvania to bury my father. While there we did the Youngstown day trip with the same couple being very vigilant about the speed zones and guess what was in our mailbox on our return home, a picture of my South Carolina license plate. $149= 48mph in a 35 zone. I don’t think so. This time I think they’re going to have to whistle Dixie to get any more money from me now or in the future. Safe to say we’ll never patronize the area again..
So be warned, avoid all of northeast Ohio as the municipalities in that region are making millions of dollars in revenue solely through their camera ticketing program. I reached out to Ohio representative Patton , a retired police officer who has been on record opposing the practice but got no response, really didn’t expect much, just wanted to vent.
Here’s just a couple news stories investigating the revenue being taken in by the different districts and in most cases they get no comment from district leaders or the police departments in the area.

https://fox8.com/news/i-team-uncovers-secrets-youve-never-heard-before-behind-those-traffic-cameras/

https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/investigations/3news-investigates-speed-camera-tickets/95-15a04028-1eb5-4a7c-9c12-f56ff3b24008

[qtla9111]

One of the great things about being retired is you have the time to actually go back and fight the ticket. Principle more than anything else. Fight the fight for those that can't take the and can't afford to pay.

[Matt_Colie]

If retained by an Ohio LEO, you have to arrange to pay the costs and fines before you and you credentials are released. So, Drive Slowly, Stop too soon and avoid the rest of Ohio. Works for us.
The other answer if you can do it is to buy fuel at the bridge. Drive across Canada (they aren't sneaky) and cross the other bridge.
Matt_C

[valhalla360]

ford truck guy wrote:
so................ You were speeding, got a citation mailed to you instead of being chased by the LEO and your mad?? IF you want to speed, you take that chance.... All of the states around PA has electronic speed control in almost ALL construction zones.... They usually park a car outfitted with a camera somewhere behind the jersey barrier to enforce . . Wanna play, gotta pay

The issue with Ohio is they target out of state plates.

It's a 2 tier enforcement system and that is wrong. Everyone should be equal before the law.

[bucky]

Dash cams of good quality start ~$100. Use them to defeat the clowns.
They work real well against red light cameras and the video can be run back to show the last speed limit sign you passed.

[Bob806]

Simple...don't pay the fines on mail citations. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled traffic enforcing cameras are illegal, because you must face your accuser in a court of law.

[JRscooby]

I have never been a fan of robots enforcing traffic laws. But so far, tickets coming in the mail, nobody is getting shot.
Now I do have ideas about how cameras at all light controlled intersections could reduce accidents. Now, every time both drivers swear they had green. If there was a video of wreck, let them swear. Us video as witness, both to civil case about who pays for damage, but also criminal case for perjury. Sureness of penalty would increase caution.
BTW, cost of running the cameras would be paid by mailing fines for littering.

[Matt_Colie]

While Haste is close, Ohio is still a problem. In spite of what they do say, they have always targeted out of state plates.

Years back, I had a Ohio trooper tailgate me (I mean like read the hood ornament tailgate). I just kept slowing down. He finally hit the lights and I pulled over. In very sarcastic tone he asked what I was doing. I told him that I thought my speedometer was bad and he was going to pop me for speeding if I didn't slow down.

So, when in Ohio, we cruise at Speed Limit ~ -1 or 2. The people behind us get all POd and I don't care. They picked it.

If you think a traffic light might have a camera, panic stop a length short of the stop line. Again, this upsets the natives. I would like to say I am sorry, but I am not good at lying.

Matt_C

[haste_maker]

Obey the law...problem solved...

[ford_truck_guy]

I have driven from SE PA to West of Cleveland every 6-8 weeks for the past 8 years... I was pulled over a total of 1 time, and that was in PA.. I Was doing 88 in a 70 just East of Pittsburgh.. received a non moving citation for a turnpike violation... That way I did not get points or effect my insurance.. I do NOT have a light foot, and have a PA license plate and have ZERO pull overs in Ohio.. Lucky ??????

[ferndaleflyer]

That area of Ohio has been using that revenue source for years. I had a friend get a citation from one of them once that had a pic of a car not his with a bent over license plate from another state. He had never been in Ohio in his life and was faced with pay or have his registration revoked at home. It was cheaper to pay than fight.

[ppine]

I avoid the whole state.

[ford_truck_guy]

so................ You were speeding, got a citation mailed to you instead of being chased by the LEO and your mad?? IF you want to speed, you take that chance.... All of the states around PA has electronic speed control in almost ALL construction zones.... They usually park a car outfitted with a camera somewhere behind the jersey barrier to enforce . . Wanna play, gotta pay