Sferra v City of Girard, Ohio
Ohio City Fights Back Against Traffic Cameras
A lawyer in the town of Girard, Ohio has gotten the ball rolling on a possible class action against pesky traffic cameras. The attorney handling the case said he requested owners of cars photographed speeding by the camera be issued warnings rather than fines until his case is litigated. After the city refused to comply, the attorney threatened the city with a class action lawsuit.
One day after demanding Girard stop issuing citations for speed violations caught by its automated traffic camera, the attorney followed through on his threat to seek class action status for his lawsuit. In a letter to the city from the Girard, Ohio attorney, he stated that if a class status is granted, he will ask the court to order Girard to return the nearly $35,000 it has generated through speed citations to fined car owners since the camera went into use in July, 2005.
In the motion filed November 3, 2005, the lawyer representing the ticketed drivers amended it to be on behalf of Niles, Ohio resident Julie Sferra - his original client - plus the class of people who have been or will be issued photo citations. It asked for a writ prohibiting Girard from issuing any citations, conducting any hearings and collecting any fines during the life of the suit.
