Jurisdiction

Bedford Heights Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Speed Trap Location

Interstate 271

Nearest Reference Point

crossing Rockside Road (I480) and Miles Road (I-271) Landmark

GPS Coordinates

n/a

Time of Day

Any time of day

Level of Enforcement

High

Type of Enforcement

Laser, Photo, Unknown

Date

4/2005

I have heard is several times "Well, if you aren't breaking the law then you don't have anything to worry about." In Bedford Heights, Ohio, that is a fallacy. Yes, there are many stories where the offender was speeding, or admits to having an expired tag. In those cases though, wouldn't a warning sometimes suffice? Is it necessary to give tickets for every violation you see? Is it necessary to arrest people at work over unpaid minor misdemeanor tickets? I guess it is if that's your only source of income. These top ten stories illustrate what we hear time and time again about Bedford Heights Police. They make many questionable "random/surprise inspection" traffic stops. They are rude, aggressive, unprofessional, etc. We don't mind making a blanket statement. Bedford Heights officers only care about writing tickets, especially the easy technical violations (license plate obscured, license plate light out, etc.) These type of violations are not safety related. They are revenue enhancement violations. Bedford Heights is using the "law" to make money. It's a business. And business is good.

Comment (2/2006): I drive through Bedford Heights every day. (Through town, not on the highway) In the last 5 years I have been pulled over twice. Once for running a red light (which I did) and once for my license plate cover. (didn't know clear ones were illegal) Both times I tried to treat the officers with respect and in return they both were polite and professional. I also recieved verbal warnings.... no tickets. If you are getting tickets from them, maybe the problem is yours. (?)

Comment (7/2006): So....you got stopped for an equipment (easy technical) violation and was cited. You didn't pay the ticket, had a warrant out for you for failing to appear in court, BHPD came to your work (I assume in Bedford Hts) and hooked you up for it. Hmmm, how dare they?

Comment (7/2006): I have been driving the "Bedford Strangler" corridor daily now for about 18 months. I cannot tell you how many times in the mornings I have seen the victims pulled over. In fact, you need to be accurate about just who these revenue collectors really are... Eight out of ten kills are at the hands of the Oakwood Police; Oakwood, a tiny little burg which butts up against Bedford and who's city income tax take from my paycheck almost made me ill. Yep, it's all about revenue for poor, hungry little communities who have a tiny strip of opportunity on the I271-480 merge. If the engineers who attempted to design this merge had any real education and sense about traffic flow and control, they would have created a merge where people didn't have to go from 65mph to 22mph in five seconds. That traffic issue may be a blessing in disguise though since during rush hour the only tickets they can write is for you not moving. Beware of the tough veteran motorcycle cop who sits under the bridge at the same merge and plinks cars coming in from I-271 northbound.