Could Sandusky install speed cameras on Chaussee?

SANDUSKY — Residents living along the Cedar Point Chaussee want to prevent cars from zipping by their homes at speeds matching those of Gemini (which peaks at 60 mph), Maverick (70 mph) and even Millennium Force (93 mph).They would prefer it if vehicles traveling through these neighborhoods sync up their speeds to something more like Cedar Creek Mine Ride (40 mph) or Woodstock Express (25 mph).Sandusky city commissioners recently learned trustees representing the Cedar Point Property Owners Association want to install traffic-enforcement cameras spotting speedsters and recording their license plate numbers. In theory, this would prelude a court-supervised process to issue violators tickets. It's a similar mechanism to red light cameras found in bigger cities.People can't travel any faster than 35 mph anywhere on the Cedar Point Chaussee.While the initiative remains in a preliminary and investigative phase, Sandusky ex officio mayor Dennis Murray Jr. provided some background on this matter:Q: What's the reasoning behind this?DM: The (association's) board of trustees has discussed the speed situation out on the road for many years, but, as the road deteriorated, it became less of an issue because it became increasingly difficult to significantly exceed the speed limit. But, with improvements expected by Cedar Point next summer, (which include) widening and new pavement, it is expected that some motorists will again significantly exceed the speed limit.Q: What's happening now?DM: With the support of both the park and the residents, we have requested that the (city's) law department research the ability to place the speeding cameras on this road only. Cameras would not be installed until after the road is completed and, likely, would be moved from time to time.Q: If the camera idea goes forward, what role will the city play in all of this?DM: The city's involvement would be to install and move the cameras and to issue the tickets and administer the program. The municipal court would have jurisdiction over these citations, just like any other speeding ticket, where they could be challenged. SPD does patrol this area, but it is high traffic and remote from most of the rest of the city.Q: Does the city currently possess and/or deploy these types of cameras anywhere else in Sandusky?DM: We do not presently have speeding cameras in any other part of the city nor is that anticipated, absent a request from another neighborhood.Q: What kind of cost is associated with this?DM: This will be self-funded but not a net revenue source for the city. The program should cover its costs. Unlike some municipalities, this will not be designed to raise money to fund the government and is instead purely a safety program.Q: Why would the city look into this?DM: We are trying to respond to the needs and the requests of this neighborhood. Each of Sandusky's neighborhoods has different concerns and needs. At this juncture, this seems like a reasonable concern and a reasonable response, and so I supported the request to see if we could introduce legislation to address it.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.Sandusky officials are looking into installing traffic-enforcement cameras along the Cedar Point Chaussee. The cameras would identify cars traveling faster than the posted speed limit of 35 mph.