New Rome (OH), city widely known as speed trap, loses only traffic light

Marion (OH) Star ^ | 6.20.03

[Do the Dew]

PING

[Glenn]

(AP)

New Rome no more.

NEW ROME, Ohio (AP)

No Roads lead to New Rome.

This tiny central Ohio village, known to locals as a speed trap that raked in thousands of dollars in traffic fines is no more.

The village's dissolution became official Widnesday and it now becomes another part of Prarie Township.

New Rome's demise came after a court sided with with Attorney General Jim Petro and agreed the village had been operating illegally.

A recently passed law allows the state to seek dissolution of villages of fewer thant 150 people if the state auditor finds a pattern of wrongdoing or incompetence in the its (sic) operation. The village admitted it did not pass a tax budget in 2004 and failed to follow election laws.

[Glenn]

See #23.

[mcshot]

Amen to that.
Until that happens we'll stay safe through avoidance.

The word for today is avoid Rosendale.
mc

[tang-soo]

I graduated from Westland High School (1976) across the street from New Rome. Even back then it was known as a speed trap. Drs. West Hospital is just East of NR and I remember a story of a little old lady driving a couple mph over the limit on her way to the hospital ... well you can fill in the blanks.

By the way, the article does now specify where the light was located. I assume it was not at Broad and Hilliard-New Rome Rd. that is a very busy intersection.

[buccaneer81]

By the way, the article does now specify where the light was located. I assume it was not at Broad and Hilliard-New Rome Rd. that is a very busy intersection.

It's the one by the New Rome Motel, about 100 yards west of the entrance to Doctor's West.

[PA Engineer]

I remember New Rome. In 1980 I was heading back to 70 from a project in Columbus when I was pulled over for going "2-miles/hr" over the speed limit. Ten in the evening and I had to pay $45 cash (around the corner at the station) then and there.

The worst part was the "officer" explained that they had already factored in a five mile/hr grace factor and I had exceeded it by 2. How convenient.

That "town" is almost as bad as some places in West Virginia.

[PA Engineer]

They let you leave. They treatened to hold a fellow engineer and myself until morning if we didn't come up with the money.

[steveegg]

BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

[TexanToTheCore]

Sealy Texas is another bad one. About two years ago, I stopped buying anything is Sealy (I live sort of nearby) except gas. Last month's ticket ended any gas purchases ($40 per day)


Bottom line over the last three years:

Fines to Sealy for piddling stuff: $300
Sales tax not collected by the City of Sealy due to a change in buying habits: $2500.

Actions have consequences. 'Specially when you are dealing with locals.