Ohio speeding tickets could really set you back - no proof necessary

Getting a speeding ticket is never really a fun thing – between fees, fines, and increased insurance costs, you’re looking at a lot more than $400. In Ohio, however, the state that gives out one of the most speeding tickets, fighting that ticket just got a lot harder. The Ohio Supreme Court decided to rule that “trained” officers can rely on visual estimates to hand out legally binding speeding tickets.

Article Resource: Ohio speeding tickets could really cost you – no proof needed By Personal Money Store

The court case of the Ohio speeding ticket

A 5 to 1 decision of the Ohio Supreme Court stated that officers do not need any kind of verifiable evidence to issue a speeding ticket. The officer has to be "trained" in estimating speed. This indicates no radar gun, no laser measurement of speed, no paper trail to dispute – only your word against the officer’s. The supreme court of Ohio is quick to point out that this is not what they desire to see as policy, but what the constitution permits.

The reality of speeding tickets financially

Speeding tickets are often used by small towns for more than safety enforcement. Some cities make more than 30 percent of their budget from traffic enforcement. An average speeding ticket in the United States costs about $150, and increased insurance costs can run up to $300 over 3 years from just the first infraction. Some states even passed laws stating that cities aren’t allowed to make any more than 30 percent of their income from speeding tickets. Some states have even instituted systems like the one where speeding tickets can be paid for on the spot with a credit card.

The reaction to the outcome of the Ohio speeding ticket case

Ohio is being criticized all around the world. The ACLU says that this case will open up Ohio to possible racial profiling, stops for no reason and civil liberty violations. To address this concern, SB 280 was introduced within the Ohio congress. Senator Tim Grendell and Senator Capri Cafaro have introduced a bipartisan bill to require verifiable evidence for speeding tickets.