TRAFFIC CAMERAS RETURN TO DAYTON IN OCTOBER

Motorists will not be cited until November; warnings to be issued.

Dayton’s red-light and speed detection cameras will be activated sometime after Oct. 1, but the city will not start citing motorists for violations captured on tape until a month later.

During the month of October, the city will issue warnings to drivers who were caught running red lights or speeding by 10 automated traffic cameras at five locations in Dayton.

But beginning Nov. 1, motorists will be mailed $85 fines if they are caught on camera breaking the law.

City officials said traffic cameras save lives and prevent inju-

ries and property damage, and additional cameras at new sites may be activated in the future.

“Public safety is always our top priority,” said Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl. “Camera enforcement is very effective in reducing accidents in high-risk areas.”

The fixed camera sites were selected based on an analysis of the intersections and stretches of roads with the most and worst traffic crashes, officials said.

Hand-held speed-detection cameras will be deployed to areas that are a source of neighborhood and citizen complaints or that have seen an increase in crashes, said police Maj. Wendy Stiver. The camera locations are:

West Third Street at James H. McGee Boulevard (three red light cameras)

North Gettysburg Avenue at Fairbanks Avenue (two speed cameras)

North Main Street at Siebenthaler Avenue (one speed camera)

South Keowee Street between East Third Street and East Fourth Street (two speed cameras)

South Smithville Road at Linden Avenue (two red light cameras).

The city originally planned to launch a more limited traffic camera program that would have required police officers to be stationed at the devices while in operation.

But a ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court overturned restrictions requiring sworn law enforcement officers to be present at the cameras in order for cities to cite violations documented by photo or video.

Critics have accused cities such as Dayton of using cameras primarily to generate revenue, a claim that Dayton officials and leaders have strongly denied.