Group: Let’s end Cleveland’s red light cameras

CLEVELAND - Red light and speed cameras have been controversial since they were installed throughout Cleveland and Northeast Ohio about five years ago.

A group is now pushing to get those cameras out of Cleveland and Garfield Heights, but the city said if people didn’t speed or run red lights, this wouldn’t be an issue.

COAST, or Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes, is based in Cincinnati, but will help any city in Ohio trying to get the cameras banned. They held a protest and street corner news conference Friday to announce a push for petitions in Cleveland and Garfield Heights.

“If people in Cleveland want them, they can have them, but the petition drive is to put it on the ballot and let people decide,” Chris Finney said.

“We need just over 8,100 valid signatures. We will turn in over 12,000 signatures. We will absolutely have that. We’ll have that finished in the next 60 to 90 days,” Maryanne Petranek said.

They say the cameras cause more rear end collisions from people trying to avoid a ticket and they violate people's rights.

“We’ve had 500 years of innocence until proven guilty, right to gather witnesses. We've thrown all of that out the window and said government is going to oppress people,” Finney said.

The city said this about the protest: It’s a sad reflection when liberty is equated with the ability to break the law at will.

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Ohio News Network