Ohio “Speed Trap” Town Disbands Entire Police Department

We should all know by now that the practice of issuing fines for traffic violations has less to do with public safety, and more to do with generating revenue for police departments and their municipalities. However, the small Ohio town of Alrington Heights took this practice to the next level, and became known as one of the state’s most treacherous speed traps.

In the past it was reported that about 93% of legal cases that came from Alrington Heights, were for traffic fines. Despite being the smallest town in Hamilton County, it had issued the most speeding tickets. Strangely enough though, much of that money never found its way to the village coffers. Three months ago, a state auditor discovered that two clerks for the town had pilfered $260,000 from traffic fines, over the course of several years. The staffers have since been convicted and ordered to pay restitution.

That case provided the town with the impetus to finally disband the police department. The town now relies on the Sheriff’s department for patrols. The former mayor of Arlington Heights claims the decision was purely financial, since the town could no longer afford the police department. Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters, who has long accused the town of being a speed trap, applauded the move.

“Basically, they were setting up speed traps on I-75 to fund the municipal workings of that village – which they then stole. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s something off about a village that’s maybe a mile long setting up speed traps to raise money that then is used to fund a bunch of public employees. It just rubs me the wrong way.”