A Jefferson County judge ruled today that citations issues by automated traffic cameras did violate an ordinance.

Judge David Henderson said the citations are invalid because they were not in compliance with the notice provision of the ordinance.

Henderson said that signs warning about the traffic cameras should have been posted prior to the cameras actually being put in place, but they were not.

The judge also said the voluntary payment doctrine does not apply in this situation.

He is ordering that those persons who paid the fines will be reimbursed. The amount of those reimbursements has not been determined.

On Feb. 15, Henderson ruled that a class action suit could proceed against the city of Steubenville and Traffipax, Inc., the company who supplied the cameras.

Steubenville attorney Gary Stern initially filed suit against the city and Traffipax on behalf of his wife, who received one of the $85 tickets issued by a traffic camera. Stern argued that the cameras were illegal and unconstitutional.

Henderson's ruling did not address whether or not the traffic cameras were unconstitutional.

Traffipax could appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals.

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