Canton Red Light Cameras

I had not really had strong feelings one way or another on the plan by Canton, Ohio to install red light and speed cameras until the recent meetings. At the meetings, it was revealed that the red light and speed cameras are all about money, not safety. The politicians will not say this, they stand by the safety argument, but their approach to violations shows otherwise.

Here is why I think that the red light and speed cameras are about money and not traffic safety. At the meetings it was revealed that any vehicle crossing the sensor would activate the camera system. This seems pretty straightforward so far. The representative then stated that still photos would be taken of the infraction and the license plate of the vehicle. This too seems to be legitimate. Here is the part that proves these red light and speed traffic cameras are only about money; THE FACE OF THE DRIVER WILL NOT BE PHOTOGRAPHED! What??? This is simply to make prosecution much easier and you cannot argue that the driver pictured is not you. The City of Canton is not really interested in prosecuting the right person, or changing the driving habits of the offender. The City of Canton will simply mail a camera ticket to the owner of the car. They do not care who will get a red light camera ticket, they just want somebody to pay to bolster the budget of Canton.

If City officials want to argue that these new red light and speed cameras are about safety, then they need to photograph the driver and be sure to prosecute the right person. Their argument is that no points will be assessed to the license of the car owner, and that it is a civil penalty. My argument is that this is being done so that the wrong person can be prosecuted, which I thought was illegal with my limited understanding of law.

I said when I started this site, that I would reserve judgement until I knew more facts, including how Canton was planning on operating their new red light and speed cameras. The information provided at the meeting has turned me against the system, based simply on how Canton officials are choosing to prosecute a car owner, no matter who is driving. Oh, there is an “appeal” process whereby a person can say “Joe was driving, not me,” but it is up to the owner to prove. Last time I checked, the burden of proof was supposed to rest on the prosecution (City of Canton) not the defense (car owner).

Canton City residents should try to get a ballot initiative to outlaw these red light and traffic cameras. Let the residents of Canton decide at the November election whether these red light and speed cameras should be installed or remain in operation. I think that these cameras COULD be beneficial IF City officials operate them properly. Prosecuting a car owner no matter who was driving is not the right way of doing it.