Cleveland traffic cameras

A Lucas County judge on Sunday granted a preliminary injunction blocking new statewide restrictions on traffic cameras from taking effect.

(Plain Dealer file)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A Lucas County judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking new restrictions on Ohio traffic cameras from taking effect on Monday, as scheduled.

Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Dean Mandros, in an opinion issued Sunday, granted the city of Toledo's request to delay Senate Bill 342, agreeing that it violates the city's home-rule authority.

The law would allow Ohio communities to continue using traffic cameras to issue red-light and speeding tickets only if a police officer is present. It would also require municipalities to conduct a three-year safety study of an intersection before it could install cameras there, among other rules.

In his written opinion, Mandros stated the law would force Toledo to give up its cameras, as the city's police department doesn't have the ability to staff its 28 fixed-location cameras.

The judge wrote that allowing Toledo to continue operating its cameras would serve the public interest, noting that traffic violations in the city have dropped by 50-60 percent overall since the devices were set up.

American Traffic Solutions, Toledo's traffic-camera vendor, is pleased with the judge's ruling, company spokesman Charles Territo said in an email.

Sunday's injunction only applies to Lucas County, but Mandros' ruling could prompt similar rulings in lawsuits filed by Akron, Columbus, and Dayton, among others.

At least seven communities, including Columbus and Dayton, have said they plan to stop issuing traffic-camera tickets if the new law takes effect. Some of the other 10 or so municipalities in the state with camera programs, however, have said they intend to continue using the devices even if the law takes effect.

Read the judge's full opinion: