Ruehlman found in March that the speed cameras were unconstitutional, essentially then ordering them shut down, along with the speed ticket program. He also ruled that outstanding tickets issued as a result of the system did not have to be paid.
During the June 27 hearing, Ruehlman found that his order had been violated in a number of ways. First off, the cameras had been turned back on, though Elmwood Place Police Chief Bill Peskin said during the hearing that they were only used to collect traffic and speed data, not to collect license plate information or to issue new traffic tickets.
He also testified that people who had come to the station to pay tickets they had been issued were told that they didn't have to.
"Many people did show up, trying to pay their citation to us," Peskin said, "and we told them that the program was to be suspended and they didn't have to pay the citation."
The thing is, tickets were never meant to be paid to the suburb - though some monies apparently were collected, with some going back to Elmwood Place, according to court testimony.
"The traffic camera company collected the citations, and apparently continued to collect money sent in after the judge's March order," WLWT reported. "There was testimony in court that some $48,000 was collected, with a percentage of that money passed on to the village per the speed camera contract. Optotraffic did not have a representative in court Thursday.
. . . .
In order to ensure no further violations of his order occurred, the judge ordered the Hamilton County sheriff to impound the traffic cameras and all of the equipment that is part of the traffic program, and store it at the expense of Elmwood Place. The equipment is to be released when the $48,000 in improperly collected ticket fees is returned. Per WLWT:
Learn more:
http://www.naturalnews.com/041084_sp...#ixzz2YUF6RCWe
Originally Posted by timosman
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