Perrsyburg man files $3M lawsuit over red-light cameras

6/20/2007

BOWLING GREEN - A Perrsyburg man filed a class-action lawsuit this week in Wood County Common Pleas Court against the city of Northwood, its police department, and the Scottsdale, Ariz., company that installed and maintains the red-light and speed cameras in Northwood.

David A. Czech, on behalf of himself and more than 20,000 others who have been caught by the cameras and issued tickets, claims Northwood and Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. are using an unconstitutional ordinance to extort money from them.

In his complaint, he alleges the ordinance does not "provide due process at any stage of such enforcement."

Mr. Czech is seeking a judgment in excess of $3 million, which he says is the amount of damages and attorneys' fees the plaintiffs have incurred.

He also is asking the court to declare the ordinance unconstitutional and issue an injunction prohibiting Northwood from continuing the practice.

The case has been assigned to Judge Robert Pollex.

In January, 2005, Northwood installed four red-light cameras at two main intersections: Woodville and Lemoyne roads and Wales and Oregon roads. City officials contend the devices have helped reduce vehicle crashes.

Toledo is the only other city in northwest Ohio that has red-light cameras, which have been controversial across the state.