The residents of Heath, Ohio were surprised to find that the Mayor and City Council had entered into a rush agreement with Redflex to install red light cameras and speed cameras while nobody was watching. The first clue to the public that an agreement had been struck was when red light cameras and speed cameras started appearing on the streets. The mayor made a public announcement to the press AFTER the red light cameras were installed and the City was locked into an agreement with Redflex. I guess he thought that the public would do as they did in Canton and shoot down the red light cameras before they were installed.
All that has happened in Heath, Ohio is that the residents are fighting mad. Business owners are mad, and for good reason. If I had to have a sign made and I had a choice between a business in downtown Heath, Ohio or a surrounding township or city that did not have red light cameras, I would choose the camera free location even if I had to drive 5 miles further. Why risk a ticket that can make my sign $100 more than if I purchased elsewhere. Signs are not the only example, it was just a convenient example. These cameras are at lights that have the bare minimum yellow light time allowed by law and you risk getting a ticket anytime you travel into Heath, Ohio, making doing business there undesirable.
If you are a Heath, Ohio resident and a registered voter and you would like to help remove the red light cameras by signing a petition, you are urged to call Duane Goodwin of DR. Signs at 740-522-4289. Do not let the red light camera scam continue in your city. We defeated the cameras in Canton, Ohio before they were installed, but we were prepared for a fight. These cameras deprive you of many constitutional rights and you should not stand for them.
Jun 30
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Are you serious? These cameras are only a scam to those who are afraid of getting caught. There was mention of these cameras at the city council meetings that no one ever attends until now.
The roadway that you are talking about is a death trap and meant to be driven by only aggressive drivers before. Now the traffic isn’t going the usual 50 mph it is moving at the SPEED LIMIT of 35 mph.
You should really make sure that all facts are checked out before you post on your blog. The reason why people were uninformed was because they didn’t want to do their part and be active in their community. Rather than sitting at home watching TV they should have attended meetings!
Note: I am sorry for the delay in posting your comment. It got caught in my spam filter for some reason, even though you did not post a spam comment. Usually Askimet (my spam filter) is very good at allowing people to post and trapping spam, but it messed up this time.
As for these cameras only being a scam to those scared of being caught, we will see how the vote goes. There has never been a vote anywhere to keep these cameras. Every location that has put the issue before the voters has outlawed these cameras. I would not be against them IF the city had to prove that a crime (speeding or red light running) was committed AND that I did it, AND gave me the same legal rights that I have if a police officer issue a citation to me. Right now, no city in Ohio gives me the same constitutionally guaranteed rights that I have if a police officer pulls me over.
September 17th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
katie,
Even if no one attended the city council meetings, that is no reason to push through this type of scam on the citizens of Heath. This should of been an issue on a ballott. Voted in or out by the citizens. We all have been caught “accidentally” going through a yellow light.
October 25th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
The mass ticketing and corruption has a familiar ring. This sounds an awful lot like New Rome a few years ago. As many know, the city of New Rome was shut down due to corruption and a mass ticketing system that made national news. I was on my way to a medical office in Newark and came through Heath. I stopped at a McDonalds while in Heath. I got my ticket in the mail from one of these cameras. I will certainly take a different route to Newark for a follow up visit. If Newark wants to put cameras in too, I’ll find another doctor.