CLEVELAND – The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections Wednesday approved the signatures submitted by a group to place a question on the ballot essentially banning Cleveland’s traffic camera system.
The board ruled that 6,613 of the 13,218 signatures submitted by the group See Red Cleveland were valid enough to put the measure on the ballot.
MAP: Cleveland’s permanent traffic cameras
The ultimate decision rests with Cleveland City Council which took immediate action by announcing a special meeting of council at 12 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3. By holding a special meeting before Sept. 5, council can put the measure on the November ballot and avoid the more than $750,000 cost of a special election.
The ballot question would ask voters to require the city to limit the use of the cameras for ticketing unless an officer is present at the location and issues the ticket themselves to the violator at that time.
The city’s website lists 46 camera locations around the city where there are red light, speed or a combination of both, they also say that up to 15 portable units could be used as needed in other locations.
MAP: Cleveland’s Portable Camera Units, Aug. 14 to Sept. 4
The argument behind the cameras is they free up officers from writing tickets to fighting crime so requiring officers to staff the locations eliminates that possibility.
Those behind the push argue the cameras represent more a revenue generator than a safety promoter.
