The Ohio House has approved legislation aimed at stopping a tiny village from collecting extraordinarily large fines for traffic-related violations.



The Columbus Dispatch reports the measure approved last week would require municipal or county courts to collect fines and adjudicate tickets for small villages without mayor's courts.



A one-person police department in Brice, near Columbus, has been using a civil violation system to aggressively ticket motorists after the Legislature in 2013 banned mayor's courts for villages of fewer than 200 people. Brice has a population of around 114.



Republican Rep. Cheryl Grossman says the average ticket for expired tags in Brice is $750. Democratic Rep. Hearcel Craig calls Brice's ticketing practices "abusive."



People contesting tickets in Brice currently must seek a hearing with the village law director.