One, Two, Three, Red Light!
An Ohio woman is challenging the use of red-light cameras in a case that may well force the removal of the systems. The suit could even lead to the state and municipalities having to refund all the money they have collected from the systems.
In November 2005, Mendenhall got a ticket from a red-light camera. It stated she was going 39 mph in a 25 mph zone on Copley Road in Akron. Mendenhall is married to Warner Mendenhall, an attorney known for fighting government. "He said, 'Well, you're going to have to pay the ticket or I'm going to have to sue somebody.' I said, 'Well, I guess you're going to have to sue somebody,'" she said. And he did, Pohman reported.
Warner Mendenhall is now representing his wife in the case before the Ohio Supreme Court, challenging all red-light cameras in the state of Ohio. "It is big brother absolutely," Mendenhall said. The Mendenhall case challenges all red-light-cameras on constitutional grounds. He claimed the cameras and the tickets deny due process.
In the suit, Warner and his wife contend the cities have turned a criminal violation in to a civil matter with a sole purpose of making money. "Cities cannot just take what are crimes and make them civil offenses. People cannot afford these fines. The fine my wife faced was $150," Mendenhall said. In discovery, Mendenhall revealed thousands of mistakes, Pohlman reported.
I've never been fond of the idea of these camera systems. There have been too many reports of foul-ups, mistakes or overly avaricious behavior on the part of the governments that have been using them. If they win the suit, it could well have national implications as well.
By Brass, February 5, 2007 @ 10:58 am
I’ve read that alot of the red-light-camera makers get part of the money from the tickets. This has led to the changing of the timing on yellow lights, making them turn several seconds quicker in order to bump up the number of tickets.