Those traffic cameras you passed on the way into work this morning were still operational, to be sure, even though the Eighth District Court of Appeals ruled that they were unconstitutional this week. The gist of the ruling centered around the fact that Cleveland’s traffic violations fall out of the jurisdiction of a municipal court.
Hearings on traffic violations have been suspended for the time being.
Cleveland’s law department, meanwhile, is reviewing the court order. Representatives there have not yet returned Scene‘s request for comment.
UPDATE: Here’s Maureen Harper, the mayor’s chief of communications, on residents’ next actions: “Citizens who have questions surrounding paying violations they received through the traffic camera enforcement program should consult their personal attorney.”
This article appears in Jan 22-28, 2014.
The machines can photograph the growing potholes at those intersections. Rest assured – though – that Frank Jackson and his other chums who have made politics a career will try to figure out a means to slam traffic violations into muny court.
EXACTLY! I am always ranting on about the potholes. They can do this this and that, but not fix the damn pot holes that are sending my car to a premature death. I’ve had my car for about 10 years. Most of them in San Antonio. 10 years there is like one year here, I have decided, in regards to the city/climate destroying my car. So, I get some satisfaction that I haven’t paid those stupid tickets yet.
So can people get their freakin $$$ back that have had to pay for these unjust tickets already… saying as how the violations were unconstitutionally founded???? And yes, the money that goes into Cleveland is never to solve it’s citizens problems, it seems. The money that goes into making Cleveland “better” really doesn’t address the NEEDS of the city as much as the GREED of it’s leaders/administrators. Anyone drive down Fleet Ave lately? How many tires were on your car when you were done? The potholes there are KNOWN to be huge. But it’s ignored. Frustrating.
If the camera placement seemed to be remotely for public good – traffic calming on residential streets to protect residents – I would be less upset about these tickets. But having them in commercial areas, on 4 lane roadways that are posted as 25 mph – when parallel, 2 lane, heavily residential streets are posted as 35 – seems like the ultimate GOTCHA. Take a look at where these cameras are posted – then tell me how they’re helping the neighborhoods they’re in versus just padding the pockets of the contractor and the City.
Maureen Harper’s terse, ridiculous comment is not surprising; for the few in the Mayor’s Office who truly believe in public service — they should be completely embarrassed by such gibberish.
Oh good, so I can get my money back on that one ticket I paid?
Cleveland will cause business near the camera location to lose money, because people will just avoid those areas. E 105 St Clair with 4 camers means I will no longer go to McDonald’s, Rally or any shopping area on E 105 and St Clair.