Petersen & Petersen Supports House Bill 473 for Increased Camera Surveillance at Ohio Rest Stops
- May 31, 2024
- PetersenLegal
- Comments Off on Petersen & Petersen Supports House Bill 473 for Increased Camera Surveillance at Ohio Rest Stops
At Petersen & Petersen, we extend our sincere gratitude to State Representative Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) and the Ohio Association for Justice’s Women’s Caucus for their vision and leadership in introducing House Bill 473. This proposed legislation would require the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to install and maintain security camera systems at all 85 public rest areas under its jurisdiction across the state.
“Thank you to Representative McNally and to our Ohio Association for Justice’s Women’s Caucus for the brainstorming behind this initiative, the wonderful and brave women who made this come to life, and for its support on this journey to enacting a law to make Ohio’s citizens that much safer,” said Susan Petersen, Chair of the Women’s Caucus and a partner here at Petersen & Petersen.
As a firm committed to protecting the rights and safety of Ohioans, we believe installing cameras at rest stops is a crucial step in deterring criminal activity and providing law enforcement with valuable evidence to prosecute crimes.
“Cameras should be installed at all rest areas, even ones recently built or renovated. Prospectively, codifying this policy prioritizes traveler safety for many years to come,” Chris Patno, president of the Ohio Association for Justice, and Petersen added.
Ohio ranks fifth in the nation for reported human trafficking incidents, and data shows increased camera surveillance can play a vital role in preventing and investigating these heinous crimes, as well as other offenses like theft and acts of violence at rest areas.
“Cameras can provide a deterrence to criminal activity, a safety blanket for Ohio’s travelers, and necessary evidence when prosecuting crimes and damages such as human trafficking, tragic road issues, and other random acts of violence,” Petersen and Patno stated.
At Petersen & Petersen, we have a long-standing commitment to advocating for measures that enhance public safety and protect the rights of victims. We commend Representative McNally’s leadership, along with the visionary work of the Women’s Caucus, on this critical issue. We urge the Ohio legislature to act swiftly in passing House Bill 473.
Ensuring the well-being of all Ohioans, including those traveling on our state’s roads and highways, is of paramount importance. By installing cameras at rest areas, we can create a safer environment for travelers and hold perpetrators accountable.