Canton Red Light Cameras

While browsing the web looking for information on Redflex and their red light cameras, I came upon an interesting page dealing with an illegally short yellow light and a hearing over a red light ticket.  In the audio recording, you can hear these supposedly educated people (the hearing officer and the prosecutor, or equivalent) have trouble with something as simple as timing a yellow light accurately.  This was all for show so that they did not have to admit that the City shortened their yellow light to a time so short that it violates Ohio law.

The website also has the same video that the hearing officer and the prosecutor (or whatever she is known as in a administrative hearing) have trouble determining is less than four seconds.  The yellow light, in fact, was shortened to UNDER THREE SECONDS.  Take a look at this website run by William “BigKid” of the MyRossCounty forum.  William’s website is here: Chillicothe Red Light Camera Hearing and Short Yellow Light.  

I had trouble viewing the page in Safari browser, but Firefox worked great, just a note to Mac users.

Take a look at William’s site.  He does a great job explaining why Redflex and cities that have red light cameras shorten yellow lights, putting lives in danger for a few extra dollars in tickets.  If a yellow light is short enough, it is guaranteed that people will run the light, resulting in more red light camera tickets.

After voting to enter into a contract with Redflex, it appears that Canton City Council may end up voting down the legislation that would put red light cameras and speed cameras in Canton, Ohio.  The city administration wants these cameras for revenue safety.  

During a finance committee meeting on Monday, there were four council members that said they would vote against red light cameras and speed cameras in Canton, Ohio.  These Canton City Council members cited strong opposition by residents in their districts as the reason for their decision.  Three more Canton City Council members stated after the meeting that they were either opposed to red light cameras or they were “leaning” against the installation of red light cameras and speed cameras in Canton.  

The sudden opposition to the red light cameras in Canton, Ohio comes just days before the legislation necessary to proceed with installation of red light cameras and speed cameras is to be voted on.  The vote on the new civil traffic code section is expected at the council meeting on Monday.  

The Canton City Council members who are planning to vote against Canton’s Red Light Cameras are: Jim Griffin, Democrat Ward 3, Joe Carbenia, Democrat Ward 9, Karl Butch, Democrat Ward 8, and Greg Hawk, Democrat Ward 1.  After the meeting, Greg Hawk, Democrat Ward 1 announced his plans to vote against the legislation that would allow red light camera installation in Canton, OH.  Patrick Barton, Democrat from Ward 7, and Bill Smuckler, Democrat at Large said they will vote against the red light camera and speed camera legislation.  Terry Prater, Ward 5 Democrat said that he will probably vote against the red light cameras.  

Several of the Canton City Council members said that their phones have been ringing off of the hooks with people upset over the proposed red light cameras.  Keep up the good work people.  Contact your council members and voice your opposition to photo enforcement.

I would urge Canton City Council members to all vote no to the Redflex red light cameras and speed cameras.  I would then urge the Canton City Council members to vote to lengthen yellow light times at dangerous intersections.  Longer yellow lights have been proven time and time again to reduce accident rates at intersections.  Longer yellow lights eliminate the dangerous dilemma zone where a driver cannot make a good choice when the light turns yellow.

I would like to thank the Canton City council members who are willing to vote against the red light cameras and speed cameras.  I have typically been a Republican, but I will give support on this website to anybody who stands up to Redflex and votes no to these red light cameras.