Speed Cameras in Ohio

Yeah this is a big surprise coming from the state that is #1 in giving speeding tickets or very close to it. They've been using airplanes a lot too. I-675 has been hit alot lately. Maybe if we could drive more like europeans we could also drive at their speeds too. Just about money and not safety. How many days have I drove on a highway with traffic averaging around 80-85MPH and never seen an accident? I know some people can't drive at high speeds without risk but thats why there is a SLOW lane.

It's nice to see someone is finally being honest about the true reason for the cameras being there. Up here they always talk about how the purpose is "safety" then gloss over the fact they've made tens of millions of dollars off speeding and red light tickets.

Growing up in Ohio during the 70's, I saw planes used a LOT then. many states have markings across the road every 10th mile for the aircraft to measure speed, but Ohio has them seemingly everywhere, not just on interstate highways...

Remember what it takes to have an accident...some one in front going slower than the person in the rear (on the highway, or at an intersection, or any where). If everyone is going the same speed, no accidents. It doesn't matter if that speed is 50 or 80. Faster speeds just means you need to leave greater distance to have reaction time. (and you have to pay attention)

That is why the car going 10 mph slower than everyone else is just as dangerous as the car going 10 mph faster than everyone else. (and why do the slow ones always end up in the left lane?? my rant) We need a 'target speed' not a speed limit, and once you are 10 mph off the target speed, you get a ticket, with the same penalty, whether you are over or under.

While there is a slow lane, if you can't drive on the highway, GET OFF. My ex-mother-in-law could not drive on the highway (would merge at 40 and be yelling at those going 55) and I am sure she probably caused a ton of accidents. Slow lane or not, if you can't drive the speed limit, go a different way.

Actually, what is needed for an accident is two vehicles trying to occupy the same space. Speed is irrevelant. Two cars going 60 MPH can collide with each other just as easy as one going 55 and the other 80.

There is no "slow" lane. The speed limit is the same for all lanes of travel. The left lane is known as the "passing" lane and you must either be going the speed limit, or passing other vehicles to be legally in the left lane.

Spot on. There are any number of reasons for driving below the speed limit, as long as you're not under the limit in the left lane you're fine. Most of the previous comment is total rubbish.

Glad you guys think so. Have fun getting hit. Yes, technically if two vehicles try to occupy the same space there is an accident, but it is not as easy for two going 60 to have a collision. Tell you what, you start in NY and pick any highway to head to CA. I will go 60 mph and be 1/2 a mile in front of you. You go 60 mph and tell me when are we going to have an accident.

You are right in that there is no 'slow lane' legally, but that is what people use it for because the highway is too crowded for its intended use. The right lane is supposed to be a merge lane, used only for entering and exiting the highway. The middle lane is the driving lane, and the left lane is the passing lane. If you are not passing someone, you are not supposed to be in that lane (EVEN if you are going the speed limit.)

The problem is that there are too many cars on the highway to have everyone in the center as they are supposed to be, and we have not kept up with adding lanes as the population has increased.

gpsaccount, you are right about the 'many' reasons to drive below the speed limit. For instance, people tow cars to Mexico using I-25 (two lanes each direction) regularly. They drive 45 in a 75 mile zone. During rush hour people drive about 80, and then have to slam on their breaks as they get in the line. The line often gets to be about a mile long in the right lane. Try to get back to the left to get around it.

You sound like the officer who told me he didn't stop them because they are 'always illegal' and it is just 'too much paperwork' to deal with it since they don't have drivers' licenses.

So all highways are single lane each way according to you. Interesting, I wonder why the state goes to the expense of building multi-lane Interstates when they're all single lane anyway?

The center lane has NEVER been intended as the traffic lane. All lanes on a multi-lane highway are intended to carry traffic.

I might also add that there is no 'minimum speed limit' on any road/highway/Interstate unless the state has posted one. Some states have laws that only allow a certain maximum speed differential on their highways and only those states have minimum speed limits.

The problem isn't the amount of paperwork. The problem is that nothing is permitted. Arrest an 'illegal' and he will be back on the street, driving his unlicensed truck, before the officer can get all the paperwork completed.

Jack j

PS: If my comments aren't posted in the middle of his posting, I'm sorry. I've seen it before here and I thought I'd try it.

Here in Washington state it seems slower traffic stays to the left and faster vehicles throw caution away trying to get around them on the right. On I-5 which is mostly 3 lane, large trucks going to and from Canada line up in the center lane and convoys. making getting around even more diffacul and dangerous. The state has signs that state drive to the right except passing "HA" Happy motoring.

1) Since you think all lanes are intended to carry traffic, see the statute below. Most states have one:
42-4-1013. Passing lane - definitions - penalty.
(1) A person shall not drive a motor vehicle in the passing lane of a highway if the speed limit is sixty-five miles per hour or more unless such person is passing other motor vehicles that are in a nonpassing lane or turning left, or unless the volume of traffic does not permit the motor vehicle to safely merge into a nonpassing lane.

2) I know that there is usually not a 'minimum speed' which is precisely the problem. (Hence the entire point I made about that we should have a speed suggestion, with equal penalty for above or below the speed suggestion.) The other problem is that even when there is one posted or created by law, it is not enforced.

3) I wasn't the one who said it was too much paperwork; he was. I don't know what you mean by 'nothing is permitted.' If you arrest an illegal, he or she will be in custody until the person posts bond, just like you or I. The unlicensed truck can be impounded until proof of registration and insurance is provided, assuming the officer does the paperwork. It is my experience that proof of registration and insurance is rarely provided, and the vehicle is usually sold to cover the impound fees.

I never said you were the one who said it was too much paperwork. What I mean my 'nothing is permitted' is just that. Look what the feds do to sheriff's who try to enforce the law. Nobody wants to waste their time doing paperwork on someone who will be turned loose so why bother?

As for it being 'your experience' how many illegals have you arrested? How many vehicles of illegals have you impounded? Are you a law enforcement officer? If so, what is your badge number and to what department are you a member of?

I'm not now nor have I ever been a law enforcement officer. But I can read.

Jack j

With this economy down, the states and cities are installing ATM machines (AKA Red light and speed cams) at the street corners to collect the extra monies we still have.
Red light and speed cams are being installed for the safety of everybody, but they (the officials) are punting everybody in danger by reducing the time yellow light stays on.
That is more dangerous and nobody seem to give a damn.

You are right on!!

For some reason, I can't reply to your latest post. So, from memory, the statute is Colorado Revised Statute. You can find it on the web, and most states have a similar statute (as I said).

Yes, I have been in law enforcement (not that it is any of your business, and I can read too, so what is your point on that???) and I decline to answer your other questions as they are irrelevant to the issues we are discussing. The point is not to have the Feds deport the person, the point is to stop the behavior. If you lost your car every time you drove on the interstate at 40 mph and spent time in jail, you would stop doing it.

Once a person is convicted of not having insurance and driving without a license often enough, that person's license is suspended, and then they can be charged with driving on a suspended license. Driving without a license, driving without insurance, and driving while suspended all carry jail time, so they don't just 'get out' so I still don't understand what you mean be 'can't do anything' (or whatever the quote was). It is not like being illegal means you have immunity.

As an officer, if a person has no proof of insurance, and you believe they do not have insurance, there is a responsibility to take that car off the road. You can't just decide not to do it because it is too much paperwork (even though some do).

You say a minimum speed is too hard to enforce. There are many laws that are difficult to enforce, which is why it seem that Speed Limits are the only traffic laws most officers are interested in enforcing. We still have laws about following too closely, using signals, or driving carelessly, all of which are difficult to enforce and require officers' discretion. As to when weather conditions cause reduction in speed to be necessary, it would be like all other laws. Officers would decided if a person should be cited, and judges and juries would decide if it was a violation.

As to the farm equipment example, I grew up in the mid-west and have yet to see a tractor get on the interstate highway (which is what we are talking about). I think most farmers have more sense than that. Same with scooter that max out at 35 mph...still haven't seen them on the interstate either. Finally, there are laws against obstructing traffic also, and the farmers (or anyone else) can be cited if they violate that law already. The key difference is whether people can see ahead far enough to slow and back up, or if they have an accident due to the obstruction.

I asked those questions because I also could claim to have worked or am still working in law enforcement even though I haven't. No way you could prove otherwise without the info I requested you supply. If what you say about your work history is true, then I thank you for your service to our society. If you are just blowing smoke, shame on you.

I grew up in Indiana. Indiana used to have minimum speed limits posted on Interstate highways. They also used to post a sign at all entrance ramps that vehicles with lugs were not allowed. Neither were posted the last time I was in Indiana. I've never seen minimum speed signs posted on Interstates in Ohio. Up hill grades are very hard for semis to maintain speed. I have been on Interstate highways over around Cleveland where there is a special lane for slow trucks. Signs say keep right except to pass. One semi doing 35 can legally pass another one doing 33 in a 70 mph zone and some of those hills are several miles long.

All of the convictions for driving without a license or insurance are meaningless. They will NOT result in jail time 95% of the time. The person might lose their vehicle but they can get another one for a couple of hundred. They broke the law by not having insurance or a license once, why do you think they'd be reluctant to do it again?

We are talking about multi-lane highways, not just Interstates. They might be limited access highways but they are still roads that farm equipment has to use and that equipment is legal on those roads.

There are several areas in Ohio that have large Amish populations, one is in the area where my son lives. They drive horse-drawn buggies that average about 20 mph and they can legally travel on all roads.

This is all I'm going to say on the subject. Have a good day.

Jack j