Hamilton & New Tech to Stop Speeding

tjjeepjeep · 04-01-2010, 09:30 AM

From wcpo.com: Guess it's better than Fairfield which is supposedly giving tickets for breathing wrong...

HAMILTON, Ohio -- One local police department is about to launch some new technology that could make you change your driving habits.

Hamilton police say they are the first in the area to get a vehicle that can enforce speed without an officer inside.

The new radar car looks like a typical SUV, but on top there's a radar. Inside there's a computer.

There are two cameras in the front and two in the back that capture video and still pictures of speeding cars.

"One will be focused on the license plate, the other will take continuous data," said Officer Rick Miller.

Miller says he never thought he'd live to see something like this.

The data automatically goes to an Arizona company called Redflex Traffic Systems that tracks the license plate of the speeding car and sends a $95 ticket to the person the car is registered to.

Hamilton police will review every citation before it's sent. An officer will not be in the vehicle as it gathers information.

"The cost of the program to the city is zero, so if it doesn't generate any revenue, that's fine," says Hamilton Police Sergeant Craig Bucheit. “If it slows people down and makes people safer, that's what's important to us.”

The car is owned by the traffic company.

The city gets 52% of all the money collected.

Hamilton Police say you have to be going at least nine miles over the speed limit to get caught by the cameras.

The police chief says the radar car will be used in school zones and around parks.

"We have complaints in a lot of those areas," says Chief Neil Ferdelman.

"We hope that we can keep a better check on crime because in this economy, this is a way for us to work smarter," the Chief says.

James and Starlene Crawford are a brother and sister who live in a home that sits within the school zone for Hamilton's Fairwood Elementary and Garfield Middle School.

They think the idea's great.

"I see them flying up and down here all day, every day," says James.

"I've seen several children almost get hit – including mine – that go to these schools," says Starlene.

If you get one of the tickets, it's not reported to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles or your insurance company.

You have a month to get used to the radar car. Only warnings will be given for the first 30 days.

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story...W4NK7fQcQ.cspx

94Dodge Truggy · 04-01-2010, 10:15 AM

Most government has become a business to make money and control in their interest. Whats the odds that this machine will venture out of the local parks and school zones and onto rt.4 or other locations? Wondering what are the statistics on previous injuries in the area they plan on keeping safer compared to their targeted goals on the new safety the machine will hopefully provide.

Last week a friend of mine was ticketed by the hamilton police dept. for having excessively high headlights. Tape measure was used to determine that his lights were over the 48" height law measuring the center of the headlamp. Seen some semi's and trains that better watch out!

tjjeepjeep · 04-01-2010, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94Dodge Truggy

Last week a friend of mine was ticketed by the hamilton police dept. for having excessively high headlights. Tape measure was used to determine that his lights were over the 48" height law measuring the center of the headlamp.

Surprised at the 48"...thought 54"
(B) Height — Every headlamp upon every vehicle, including every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle, shall be located at a height measured from the center of the headlamp of not more than fifty-four inches nor less than twenty-four inches to be measured as set forth in section 4513.03 of the Revised Code.
http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/4501-15

But I'm not an expert and didn't look at this for long honestly..

94Dodge Truggy · 04-01-2010, 10:44 AM

48 it is according to hamiltons law. Wonder if it is worth paying a lawyer and a persons time to fight against the city?

94Dodge Truggy · 04-01-2010, 10:49 AM

The zero cost to the city is nice! So the out of state company will place the machine in their desired location. Hamilton will not be able to drive it to the location, establish locations or review violations as they will have zero money in it. Sure.

tjjeepjeep · 04-01-2010, 10:55 AM

Thankfully I drive an x90...so speeding isn't really an issue for me...

04-01-2010, 09:30 AM	#1
tjjeepjeep Just tired Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, OH Posts: 2,213 Images: 2212	Hamilton & New Tech to Stop Speeding From wcpo.com: Guess it's better than Fairfield which is supposedly giving tickets for breathing wrong... HAMILTON, Ohio -- One local police department is about to launch some new technology that could make you change your driving habits. Hamilton police say they are the first in the area to get a vehicle that can enforce speed without an officer inside. The new radar car looks like a typical SUV, but on top there's a radar. Inside there's a computer. There are two cameras in the front and two in the back that capture video and still pictures of speeding cars. "One will be focused on the license plate, the other will take continuous data," said Officer Rick Miller. Miller says he never thought he'd live to see something like this. The data automatically goes to an Arizona company called Redflex Traffic Systems that tracks the license plate of the speeding car and sends a $95 ticket to the person the car is registered to. Hamilton police will review every citation before it's sent. An officer will not be in the vehicle as it gathers information. "The cost of the program to the city is zero, so if it doesn't generate any revenue, that's fine," says Hamilton Police Sergeant Craig Bucheit. “If it slows people down and makes people safer, that's what's important to us.” The car is owned by the traffic company. The city gets 52% of all the money collected. Hamilton Police say you have to be going at least nine miles over the speed limit to get caught by the cameras. The police chief says the radar car will be used in school zones and around parks. "We have complaints in a lot of those areas," says Chief Neil Ferdelman. "We hope that we can keep a better check on crime because in this economy, this is a way for us to work smarter," the Chief says. James and Starlene Crawford are a brother and sister who live in a home that sits within the school zone for Hamilton's Fairwood Elementary and Garfield Middle School. They think the idea's great. "I see them flying up and down here all day, every day," says James. "I've seen several children almost get hit – including mine – that go to these schools," says Starlene. If you get one of the tickets, it's not reported to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles or your insurance company. You have a month to get used to the radar car. Only warnings will be given for the first 30 days. http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story...W4NK7fQcQ.cspx __________________ I want to be the reason you look down at your phone and smile........then walk into a pole.

04-01-2010, 10:15 AM	#2
94Dodge Truggy EX-Vice President Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fairfield, Ohio Posts: 3,048	Most government has become a business to make money and control in their interest. Whats the odds that this machine will venture out of the local parks and school zones and onto rt.4 or other locations? Wondering what are the statistics on previous injuries in the area they plan on keeping safer compared to their targeted goals on the new safety the machine will hopefully provide. Last week a friend of mine was ticketed by the hamilton police dept. for having excessively high headlights. Tape measure was used to determine that his lights were over the 48" height law measuring the center of the headlamp. Seen some semi's and trains that better watch out! __________________

04-01-2010, 10:44 AM	#4
94Dodge Truggy EX-Vice President Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fairfield, Ohio Posts: 3,048	48 it is according to hamiltons law. Wonder if it is worth paying a lawyer and a persons time to fight against the city? __________________

04-01-2010, 10:49 AM	#5
94Dodge Truggy EX-Vice President Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fairfield, Ohio Posts: 3,048	The zero cost to the city is nice! So the out of state company will place the machine in their desired location. Hamilton will not be able to drive it to the location, establish locations or review violations as they will have zero money in it. Sure. __________________

04-01-2010, 10:55 AM	#6
tjjeepjeep Just tired Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, OH Posts: 2,213 Images: 2212	Thankfully I drive an x90...so speeding isn't really an issue for me... __________________ I want to be the reason you look down at your phone and smile........then walk into a pole.