Garfield Heights residents are getting money back for traffic tickets issued by traffic cameras

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio - The city of Garfield Heights announced they were in fiscal emergency not long ago.

Officials thought if they could catch drivers who put the pedal to the metal they'd make some money back for the city. The idea was to get traffic cameras.

But the ones they got, and now use, aren't like the traffic cameras in most city's. These cameras are put in unmanned, unmarked SUV's with traffic cameras on the inside.

The SUVs are parked all over the city and snapping pictures of speeding drivers.

Officials say the original rules were anyone going over 10 miles over the speed limit would be mailed a ticket and handed a $100 fine.

What they found out was most of the drivers were getting tickets for staying in that 10-mile limit and still getting tickets. Now, city officials say they will pay back those drivers to the tune of $100,000.

Drivers will be getting checks in the mail sometime in the next 6-8 weeks.

Garfield Heights Mayor Vic Collova said the city is trying to do everything to make the mistakes right.

A group of Garfield Heights residents who call themselves Citizens of Garfield Heights got together to fight the cameras also petitioned around the city.

They got enough signatures to put and issue on the November ballot to ban traffic cameras. Citizens of Garfield Heights is hoping all residents will vote YES on the charter amendment to ban traffic camera's. 

The issue is #56 on the ballot.