Dozens of drivers ticketed by East Canton’s new speed cameras showed up in court Friday to challenge their $175 fines, as the small Stark County village’s automated enforcement program has generated thousands of citations since the summer. The hearings mark the latest flashpoint in a rollout that has already produced a backlog in Canton Municipal Court and stirred frustration among drivers hit with the fines.
Cameras Went Up in May, Fines Followed by July
The village installed the speed cameras at several locations in May, including one on Nassau Street where the posted speed limit is 35 mph, according to FOX 8. Before issuing any fines, the village ran a 30-day warning period during which it sent out nearly 20,000 warnings, the station reports. Once actual citations began, the numbers climbed quickly: 7,841 citations went out in July starting July 8, and another 8,014 followed in August, according to Trevor Elkins, whose figures were cited in the same report.
First-time violations of between one and 30 mph over the posted limit carry a $175 civil penalty, per the station’s report. That fine structure has applied to a large share of the citations issued so far, fueling the volume of tickets moving through the system each month.
Citation Counts Diverge, but Both Show Steep Numbers
Separately, Cleveland 19 News reported that the cameras issued 16,490 citations from July 15 through Sept. 9. That outlet’s breakdown found East Canton residents accounted for just 467 of those citations, or 2.8% of the total, while Stark County residents overall made up 6,760 citations, or 41%. The figures suggest the cameras are catching far more drivers passing through the village than those who live there.
By mid-September, the pace had noticeably slowed. As of Sept. 14, the village had sent 1,722 citations, a lower total than in previous months, the same fox8.com report notes. Whether that reflects changed driving behavior or another factor was not addressed in the available reporting.
Court Grinds Through a Growing Caseload
The volume of contested tickets has produced a backlog in Canton Municipal Court, according to the outlet’s reporting. Cleveland 19 News found that 147 individuals had requested hearings on 190 citations, and that 65 hearings had already been held on 80 of those citations. Of those 80, 19 were dismissed and 11 were set for an additional hearing, per that outlet’s data…