Norton, Ohio Issues 9,000 Speeding Tickets In 2 Months Deepening My Dislike For The State

From WOWKTV:

Police in Norton issued more than 9,000 speeding violations in the past two months, racking up $1.8 million in fines for the city.

From Sept. 10 through Oct. 31, Norton issued 9,352 civil violations for speeding under its photo-enforced radar program. The Akron Beacon Journal reports tickets were $200 each, totaling $1.8 million in fines.

The city released statistics on the program Tuesday. Norton officials say the program reduces highway crashes and slows down motorists in a dangerous construction zone area.

Critics contend that the program creates a speed trap meant to raise revenue for the city.

With family in Indiana I’ve made the drive enough to know the Ohio flow….

New York? Quick, piece of cake if you leave at the right time. —->

New Jersey? Smells at first, but short & easy. —->

Pennsylvania? Loooooooong & beautiful (PA is the John Hamm of states #hammer). —->

Ohio? AGHHHHHHH WHYYYYYY THE TRIP WAS GOING SO WELL & NOW THIS PLACE IS THE WOOOOORRRRSSSSST. The last time I drove through I was on my way to the Indy500 & as soon as I crossed the border, as usual, there were traffic cops everywhere.

That’s how it happens every time. You’re cruising along & no one’s bugging you and then suddenly you hit Ohio & the vibes just crash. Colorado makes money off legalized marijuana, Hawaii makes money off tourism, Ohio makes money off speeding tickets. To make sure it wasn’t just me I went around the office asking for stories to back me up:

Big Ev:

I had a friend coming to visit me on 4/20 & he got pulled over only a half hour away. One of those radar helicopters got him. They took all his greens, gave him a big fine & it put a huge damper on his weekend. He wound up having to make the 8 hour drive several more times to deal with the courts.

Jourdyn Berry:

My mom & her friends were shopping at the outlets near Cincinnati & got pulled over & were given an expensive ticket. Who gets between a midwest mom & her deals, and ruins their discounts with a big ticket?

Reags:

A 45MPH zone dropped to a 25MPH & the cop was sitting right before the 25 line. I was going about 50 so I didn’t haven enough time to hit the brakes. The officer knocked it down to a ’39 in a 25′ instead of a ’50 in a 25′. But still… couple hundred bucks down the drain. Everything stinks about driving there. Too many potholes. I blame the man for that.

Munchtown (Tonguestown?) Bob:

I was dressed as Uncle Sam when I got my speeding ticket at noon on a Friday as I was coming home from work at my dad’s job. The radar clocked me over the limit at 45MPH. Good thing the officer didn’t clock my tongue ’cause his radar would break. Kate, can I say one more thing? What’s up laydees? ::eyebrow wiggle::

I’m calling shenanigans on the Norton police department. In a town with about 12,000 people, are your tactics really working if nearly 9,000 got tickets in the span of a couple months? I feel like it might scare a few people into slowing down, but ultimately it will hurt the town as these $200 fines pile up on people who might not be able to afford it. Feel like it starts a snowball effect as people fall into stressful debts over petty mistakes. Boooo.

Maybe I’m being too harsh on Ohio as a whole. Driving through really is awful but we do have some stuff in common.