Newburgh Heights Mayor Elkins promotes traffic monitoring tech to curb speeding

The Village of East Canton Council convened on March 17, 2025, to discuss various public safety initiatives, including traffic enforcement and community safety measures. The meeting began with Police Chief Chris providing updates on recent traffic safety details, noting an increase in citations issued during the past few weeks. He expressed optimism about upcoming approvals for new technology that could enhance the department's capabilities.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on the introduction of Trevor Elkins, the mayor of Newburgh Heights, who presented information about advanced traffic enforcement technology. Elkins highlighted the challenges of rising speeding incidents post-COVID and discussed how modern tools, such as automated license plate readers (ALPR) and mobile traffic cameras, could assist local police in managing traffic more effectively. He emphasized that these technologies allow officers to focus on responding to calls while still monitoring traffic violations.

Elkins explained the operational aspects of the proposed technology, which would capture data on speeding vehicles and provide a review process to ensure accuracy before any citations are issued. He reassured council members that the data collected would not be stored indefinitely and would be used solely for law enforcement purposes.

The council also discussed the potential financial implications of implementing this technology, including projected revenue from traffic citations. Elkins estimated that the village could see around 35,000 citations annually based on traffic behavior studies. He recommended aligning the village's traffic code with state regulations to avoid legal complications regarding fines associated with automated enforcement.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on the need for further discussions regarding the implementation of these technologies and the necessary adjustments to local traffic laws. The council plans to review the proposals in detail during future sessions, aiming to enhance community safety while addressing the concerns of residents regarding speeding and traffic violations.