A new bill recently passed in the Ohio House of Representatives will expand the power of certain local police, allowing them to enforce traffic laws. Lawmakers claim this bipartisan effort will save lives and encourage safer driving on the interstate. Under this proposed law, township police will be able to enforce all traffic laws on interstate highways. Up until this point, they could write tickets, but they would not receive any money from them.
Currently, the state’s Highway Patrol monitors for speeding and traffic violations on interstates. They were often unable to cover such large areas with their number of current officers. Townships with populations of 50,000 or fewer people were not able to issue tickets or make arrests for those pulled over on the interstate highway system. If this bill becomes law, township police in areas with 5,000 to 50,000 residents will be able to do these things.
If township police are able to monitor and enforce laws on the interstate, some suggest it could lessen the burden on the Highway Patrol. It may also mean more tickets will be written for speeding and other violations. This bill will now go to the Ohio Senate for consideration.
Drivers who receive traffic tickets will not only face potentially high fines, but they could experience other complications as well. A ticket can impact insurance rates and more, especially if the individual must drive as part or his or her job requirements. While many assume it’s easier to just pay the fee and move on, there are times when it is prudent to fight a ticket with the help of a traffic violation attorney.
