Since 2006, cameras have been catching red-light runners at intersections all across Columbus.
But that changed on Monday when the city pulled the plug on 44 cameras at 38 intersections.
Drivers have mixed emotions about the change.
“I’m happy because you don't want to get a ticket for no reason, especially when they are flashing for no reason. I'm sitting here a lot of times, and I just see the lights just flashing - and no one is turning or do anything,” said one driver.
“They can catch a lot of crimes with those cams up there,” added another.
Under the new law, the state will require a police officer to be posted and enforce tickets at every intersection that has a camera.
It would mean that Columbus would have to hire at least 114 new officers and that would cost about $12.5 million a year to comply.
To put that cost in perspective, in the nine years the cameras have been in operation, the city has collected $10.2 million.
As of Friday, Columbus, Akron, Dayton and Springfield sued to block the law scheduled to take effect Monday.
In Toledo, a judge has sided with city officials, allowing the city -- at least for now -- to continue using traffic cameras in spite of the new state law. The Blade reports the judge granted the city's request for a temporary injunction, deciding the city has a good chance of seeing its system ruled constitutional.
WEB EXTRAS