The controversial traffic cameras are back up along Route 7 in Steubenville. That may seem odd after a judge issued an injunction against using the cameras to issue tickets. While it is tracking your speed, it's not snapping your picture.

"It's not taking any photos, it's simply collecting traffic data," said Sgt. Rudy Sciarra, of the Steubenville police.

The traffic data being collected is the average speed and number of cars that drive on Route 7 every day.

It's that data that Trafficpax, the company that owns camera, can use when it defends itself in a class action lawsuit filed over the cameras.

"I think it's bull," said John Rusnak, of Steubenville. "I think they're trying to sneak it back in there."

The attorney fighting the case in court said any data collected by the traffic camera's isn't valid.

"What I find very amusing is they're still using machines that have not been proven in any court of law," said Gary Stern. "That they are actually reliable in measuring speed."

Steubenville police said the cameras were never meant to just to issue tickets, but to slow people down. They said after the cameras went up the first time, the average speed of drivers went down by about 14 mph on Route 7.

"It's not about citations; it's about safety," said Sciarra. "Since the cameras were down we've had several accidents down there. We've even had a fatality. That was the purpose of putting up the cameras on Route 7, to slow the speed down so we wouldn't have any fatalities."

Either way, police won't be allowed to issue any speeding tickets to people caught by the cameras until after the case goes to court.

"I think there is still such a controversy right now, people think they're safe until the final decision." said Darla Spence, of Steubenville.

The court date is set for Thursday, March 9.

John Paul, NEWS9