126th General Assembly
(As Passed by the House)
Reps. Raussen, Seitz, Brinkman, McGregor, D. Evans, Fessler, Aslanides, Reidelbach, Gilb, Buehrer, Hood, Daniels, Taylor, Martin, Gibbs, Faber, Raga, Blessing, Schneider, Uecker, Bubp, J. Stewart, Schaffer, Webster, Key, Law, Widowfield, Calvert, Coley, Collier, Flowers, Hughes, T. Patton, Peterson, Seaver, Setzer, Trakas, Yates
BILL SUMMARY
· Permits the use of a traffic law photo-monitoring device to detect traffic law violations only if a law enforcement officer is present at the location of the device and issues tickets at the time and location of the violations.
· Requires the timing of yellow lights on traffic control signals to conform to provisions in the Ohio Department of Transportation Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
CONTENT AND OPERATION
The bill regulates the use of a "traffic law photo-monitoring device," which is defined as an electronic system consisting of a photographic, video, or electronic camera and a means of sensing the presence of a motor vehicle that automatically produces photographs, videotape, or digital images of the vehicle, its operator, or its license plate (R.C. 4511.092(A)(4)).
Under the bill, a local authority that authorizes its law enforcement agency to utilize a traffic law photo-monitoring device within its boundaries to determine compliance with, or to detect a violation of, a municipal ordinance or any provision of state law that governs or regulates motor vehicle operation must provide that the device be so utilized and operated for such purposes only when a law enforcement officer is present at the location of the device and issues tickets, citations, or summonses at the time and location of the traffic law violations (R.C. 4511.092(B)). The bill similarly prohibits the State Highway Patrol from utilizing a traffic law photo-monitoring device to determine compliance with, or to detect a violation of, any provision of state law that governs or regulates motor vehicle operation unless a State Highway Patrol trooper is present at the location of the device and issues tickets, citations, or summonses at the time and location of the traffic law violations (R.C. 4511.092(C)).
The bill requires traffic control signals to conform with provisions in the Ohio Department of Transportation Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices governing the time of display of yellow lights and yellow arrows. Specifically the time period during which a traffic control signal displays a yellow light or yellow arrow may not be shorter than the time period prescribed by that Manual for intersections that are of the same type or have the same characteristics as the intersection at which a specific traffic control signal is located. (R.C. 4511.093.)
HISTORY
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ACTION |
DATE |
JOURNAL ENTRY |
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Introduced |
02-10-05 |
p. 202 |
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Reported, H. Transportation, Public Safety & Homeland Security |
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Passed House (73-24) |
05-18-05 |
pp. 846-857 |
h0056-ph-126.doc/kl