In a recently-introduced bill, legislators in Ohio have proposed that a statewide ban should be imposed on traffic enforcement cameras; in order to eliminate what, in the opinion of the legislators, amounts to a violation of drivers' rights.

With a number of Central Ohio municipalities, following months of dispute, having banned the use of cameras in lieu of traffic enforcement, the bill put forth by the Ohio legislators will essentially to away with the use of photo monitoring devices for detecting violations in speed and traffic signals.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Ron Maag, R-Lebanon, and Rep. Dale Mallory, D-Cincinnati, is being Rep. Ron Hood, R-Ashville, who said in a statement supporting the proposal of banning traffic enforcement cameras that the findings of several recent studies have revealed that red-light cameras have proved to be a hazard to public safety.

According to Hood, the studies - which also include a federal report - have confirmed that there has been an increase in the number of rear-end-collisions at intersections which are monitored by the traffic photo-monitoring devices.

However, asserting that traffic enforcement cameras serve as an effective deterrent for curbing unsafe driving, Jonathan Adkins - deputy executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association - said: "From a highway safety standpoint, it's critical that states allow communities to use these (traffic enforcement cameras)."