NEWBURGH HEIGHTS, Ohio - - The BNN I-Team just tracked down a regional mayor who had actually been preventing us and tough concerns impacting everyone driving on Interstate 77 passing through Newburgh Heights.
And yet Mayor Gigi Traore refused to react, even with an electronic camera rolling.
Garfield Heights Municipal Court Judge Deborah Nicastro stated the method Newburgh Heights is handling traffic video camera tickets on I-77 is prohibited. In other words, the village might keep that cash.
For a number of weeks, we put in requests to talk to town leaders about the traffic electronic camera problems and we received no action.
On Monday, we discovered Mayor Traore talking with three Newburgh Heights policeman prior to a vacation parade. When we tried speak with the mayor, she turned her back on us and strolled to a group of Boy Scouts. She disregarded all of our questions.
" The judge in Garfield Heights court says you're breaking the law. What do you need to say to that," asked I-Team reporter Ed Gallek.
Traore did not respond. When asked if there was a reason the village was not paying the filing cost, she also declined to answer that concern. She simply left.
We also sent emails to authorities Chief John Majoy. We did not get a response.
We likewise sent out two e-mails to each Newburgh Heights councilmember, asking to go over the issue. 2 of the five councilmembers responded.
Councilman Bill Dunman stated he will send us a reaction at some point this week.
Councilwoman Linda Giersz reacted by e-mail. "Any and all questions ought to be directed to the mayor."
The I-Team likewise went through current legislation gone by council and discovered legislators passed an ordinance stating village officials "shall submit" the civil infraction ticket with the court and pay the filing cost. Town leaders will not answer any concerns as to why the town is not following its own regulations.
The I-Team also discovered Newburgh Heights will now be broadening its video camera enforcement program. The town will now have traffic enforcement cams in school zones. That regulation passed May 2.
" This ordinance is thus determined to be an emergency situation procedure required for the instant conservation of the public peace, health, security and welfare of the village and its locals, the emergency situation being the need to commence operation of a school zone electronic camera as quickly as possible so that the village might prevent speeding violation in school zones for the advantage of school age kids," the ordinance states.
When the school zone electronic camera program will start, it is not understood.
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The Garfield Heights Municipal Court has actually worked with a law firm to investigate how the tickets are being handled and what's required under the law.
Jerry Watkins is a driver ticketed by a speed video camera in Newburgh Heights with a $180 fine.
" Here, it simply appears like a moneymaking chance," he said. "If they're expecting us to follow the law, why are they not following the law? It's just not right."
The court stated this year Newburgh Heights is on-pace to release 70,000 traffic electronic camera tickets.
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