State Representative Meredith Craig (R-Smithville) provided sponsor testimony before the House Local Government Committee for House Bill 843 - legislation that requires a city or a village to obtain voter approval before operating automated traffic cameras.

House Bill 843 is designed to ensure that Ohio taxpayers have a direct voice in determining whether traffic cameras are used in their communities. The bill does not prohibit municipalities from utilizing automated traffic enforcement, nor does it interfere with local decision-making authority. Instead, it requires local governments to secure approval from voters before operating a traffic camera program.

The legislation is based on the principle that residents should have a say in how traffic laws are enforced, particularly in communities that already employ and fund full-time police departments. While traffic laws are intended to promote public safety, House Bill 843 recognizes that many Ohioans prefer enforcement through direct interaction with trained law enforcement officers rather than through automated camera systems.

"Traffic enforcement is about more than issuing tickets," said Craig. "Police officers provide judgment, discretion, and a visible presence that helps keep communities safe. We've seen this debate firsthand in Smithville, where residents have questioned the use of automated cameras in school zones despite having a full-time police department. Direct interaction between law enforcement and the public builds trust and promotes safety in ways that a camera simply cannot."

House Bill 843 requires the legislative authority of a city or village that wishes to utilize or continue to utilize traffic cameras to adopt a resolution by a majority vote to submit the proposal to the voters in that municipal corporation. If the proposal is approved by the majority of voters, the municipal corporation may use or continue to use traffic cameras.

"Ohioans deserve transparency, accountability, and a meaningful voice in decisions that directly affect their communities," said Craig. "House Bill 843 ensures that the people who live in the community have the opportunity to decide whether traffic cameras should be used in their town."

House Bill 843 awaits further consideration in the House Local Government Committee.