Red light cameras now city law

LIMA - City Council authorized the city's red light camera enforcement program Monday, creating an $85 civil penalty for owners of cars caught on video running red lights at marked intersections.

The city's first camera will be installed at the intersection of East North Street and Central Avenue, the city's most dangerous intersection, possibly within a month.

That intersection will also be equipped with an accident-avoidance system sensing when a car is unlikely to clear the intersection on yellow, holding the other light red for longer.

In the last five years, 21 crashes there were caused by motorists running red lights.

The cameras are provided at no cost by Nestor Traffic Systems, which receives $35 from each fine.

Warnings will be sent for 30 days after each location's camera is installed before fines are assessed.

Because the violations will be civil, not criminal, no points will go on licenses, nor will the violations be marked on driving records or be sent to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

The Ohio Supreme Court in 2008 ruled the red light cameras constitutional and many other cities in the state are now using them.

The move is not an attempt to raise money for the city, 4th Ward Councilman Tom Tebben said.

"If you don't want to pay the civil fine, don't speed and don't run a red light," Tebben said.