Garfield Heights residents 'see red' over traffic cameras

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio - A group of Garfield Heights citizens gathered outside of city hall on Monday to file a petition against the city's newly operational red light cameras.

The group, which calls themselves "Citizens for a Greater Garfield Heights" staged a rally and also filed a petition against the city's new rubbish collection tax.

The cameras are stationed on the dash board of a white SUV that is moved and parked in different areas in the city.  The cameras are designed to nab speeders in an effort to turn the tickets into cash for the city.

In 2008, Garfield Heights was placed on fiscal emergency and was nearly $2 million in debt.  The red light cameras were part of a plan devised by former Garfield Heights Mayor Thomas Longo to try to recover some of that lost revenue.

"Citizens for a Greater Garfield Heights" is trying to get both issues on the November ballot in order to give voters the opportunity to have their say on the measures.