Judge to rule on Ohio village's traffic cameras

CINCINNATI (AP) - A southwest Ohio judge is expected to rule on a lawsuit that is trying to halt a speeding ticket blitz in a village that installed traffic cameras.

Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Robert Ruehlman has scheduled his decision for Thursday on whether Elmwood Place's camera use is within the law. The Cincinnati-area village installed the cameras in September, resulting in some 6,600 speeding citations at $105 each in the first month.

The lawsuit charges that the cameras are hurting the village's image and businesses, and that they went into use without following Ohio law for public notice on new ordinances. Plaintiffs also say it's unconstitutionally difficult to challenge the citations.

Village authorities say camera use has been upheld by other courts, and that they have made the village safer.