COLUMBUS (January 5, 2007) - Governor Bob Taft today vetoed Substitute House Bill 56. The contents of the veto message are as follows:

"Pursuant to Article II, Section 16 of the Ohio Constitution, which states that the Governor may disapprove any bill, I hereby disapprove of this act and set forth below the reasons for so doing.
"Local governments and their law enforcement agencies have the best knowledge of their streets, including the location of their most dangerous intersections. Along with this knowledge, they must have the ability and flexibility to enforce traffic laws for the safety of all Ohio citizens. Substitute House Bill 56 unjustifiably eliminates the discretion of our locally elected and locally accountable officials in favor of a one-size-fits-all method with essentially unenforceable penalties. I am especially concerned that the requirement for a permanently fixed structure to mount cameras in school zones may make it impractical for municipalities to act to protect the safety of school children. I can discern no strong public policy that warrants this sweeping preemption of local control over our local streets. For these reasons, I am vetoing Substitute House Bill 56."

Please click here to see a copy of the Governor's official veto message

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Media Contact: Mark Rickel, Governor's Press Secretary, at (614) 644-0957.

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