The Lucas Village Council Law, Safety, and Traffic Enforcement committee discussed the traffic control cameras on Tuesday evening, deciding to leave them in place and continue monitoring the activity. They also discussed using the revenue generated by the traffic cameras to improve streets and sidewalks.
Committee chair Tom Sawyer asked Lucas mayor Todd Hall to provide an update on results from surveys about the cameras that were sent to village residents. Approximately 300 surveys were mailed to residents. Hall noted that all of the results have not been reviewed at the time of the meeting.
“As you will remember, when those surveys went out with the utility bills in June that were due on the 15th of July, we also had commented at that time that the surveys would be due on the 15th of July,” said Hall, “I don’t have exact numbers yet as far as what some of the final tallies are at this point. The ones I have looked at were through this last Saturday.”
Questions on the survey included would residents want the village to continue with the traffic system that was in place and would the residents be in favor of the village getting its own police department. Through Saturday approximately 100 surveys and initial results suggested a small margin in favor of removing the cameras. With regard to the police department, there was less interest in pursuing the possibility of a village police department. More than twenty-one other surveys were verifiably falsified.
Another question on the survey asked if residents had noticed a difference in driving behavior since the introduction of the cameras. It can be noted that the cameras do not impose fines for speeds only slightly over the posted limit.
“The one thing that jumped out at me,” stated Hall, “was that they noticed the difference of their driving behavior when they got in the area of the cameras but then when they go beyond the cameras, they really noticed no difference in their behavior. So in other words, they’re slowing down for the camera and then beyond that they’re taking their chances whether or not law enforcement will be present further up the road.’
Sawyer asked if there had been a reduction in traffic through town on State Route 39. Village administrator Tim Stallard said in summary of a month’s count, he could not tell a difference. The counts indicated that approximately 2,500-3,000 vehicles pass through Lucas every day.
It was also reported that at least three village merchants said that they had not noticed a change in the amount of traffic to their businesses.
The committee discussed the potential impact of House Bill 69, which passed in the Ohio House in June and will be put to a vote in the Senate. The bill would ban red-light and speed cameras with exceptions in school zones only with law enforcement present.
The debate at the State House is between those who argue that the cameras have reduced traffic accidents and those who contend that some municipalities have over-used the cameras to generate revenue for local governments. Hall was one mayor who testified at the State House to the Transportation and the Homeland Security committee in April.
Hall stated, “I’m a little concerned about what the Senate response will be the House.”
The mayor explored what penalties other states, using the enforcement cameras, impose and noted that in Arizona, penalties result in $165 fines and three points assessed; in Illinois the fine is $250 or 20 hours of community service; and in Maryland the fine is $40.
The newest member to the council, Stephanie Lee, who was appointed to fill a vacated seat, is a member of the committee. She shared comments she had heard from Lucas residents who said the slower traffic made it easier to turn onto some of the streets.
The committee decided to continue to monitor the camera activity and Sawyer stated, “I think we really need to do something to make the community more aware. I don’t want to keep bringing up the money aspect of this; but obviously, if we’re going to pursue a policing force we’re going to need to review payment options. I think we need to make the community more aware of what we’re trying to accomplish.” He added, “If you don’t want a ticket, don’t speed.”
The committee decided to move forward and seek bids to use the revenue garnered from speeding fines to improve village streets and sidewalks. In their next village council meeting they will also hear from a neighboring police department on the possibility of sharing police services.
