YOUNGSTOWN — Unmanned speed cameras in school zones in Youngstown, which lasted for three months, were never turned on again because of an unresolved dispute between the municipal court and the city administration about citation appeals.

The city implemented the speed cameras in phases beginning Feb. 21 and had them in use at 19 schools.

When schools ended classes in Youngstown, between May 18 and June 2, the cameras in the zones were turned off.

The plan was to turn the cameras back on when the Youngstown city school district teachers strike ended. But when a contract was signed and classes resumed Sept. 18, the cameras remained off.

A dispute as to how — or if — Youngstown Municipal Court will hold hearings on those contesting speed citations in school zones from the unmanned cameras exists with no indication it will be settled.

In just the three months of enforcement 22,424 speeding citations were issued.

Of those, about 300 citations are being contested.

In a Sept. 11 email to city administration officials, court Administrator David Magura Jr. wrote: “Rushing this process without due diligence could lead to unintended consequences and complications in our operations,” and the administration’s proposal “does not offer a comprehensive analysis of the potential ramifications on our docket and operations.”

City council approved minor modifications Sept. 20 to the ordinance on speed cameras in school zones, but court officials said more is needed.

The city collected $529,834 from the citations.

The city gets 65% of the money with Blue Line Solutions, the Chattanooga, Tennessee, company that runs the program, getting the other 35%.

Blue Line’s percentage is $285,295.

A total of $815,129 was collected.

Cameras were in use on school days from the time kids headed to class until 6 p.m. They weren’t used on weekends, during the summer and on days when class is not in session.

During the two hours in the morning that kids go to school, and the two hours when they leave, the speed limit in those zones is 20 mph. In between and after school ends, the speed limit is 25 and 35 mph depending on the location.

Motorists caught going at least 11 mph over the speed limit and up to 14 mph over it face a civil penalty of $100. Those going 15 to 20 mph over the limit face a $125 penalty and those traveling faster than 20 mph over the limit face a $150 penalty. They do not get points on their driving record for the citations.

Even at the minimum $100 penalty, that would mean the collection rate is about 36%. There is no apparent penalty for not paying the citations.

Under state law that restricts the use of speed cameras, Youngstown can use its share of the speed camera citation collections for only school safety resources, such as improvements to school zones and crosswalks near those buildings.

The city has spent none of its citation collection money to date.

There also is a question about a state law that could stop the city from using the cameras.

A provision in the state’s transportation budget that addresses the use of a “traffic law photo-monitoring device” permits “local authorities” to use them “to detect and enforce traffic law violations only if a law enforcement officer is present at the location of the device at all times during the operation of the device.” The law took effect June 30.

The law doesn’t specifically state cities with home rule, such as Youngstown, are exempt.

Jeff Limbian in October, when he was the city’s law director, said the state law is in “direct contradiction” to a July 2017 Ohio Supreme Court decision that ruled it was unconstitutional for the legislature to require that a police officer be present when cities with home-rule use cameras for traffic enforcement.

The court ruled in favor of Dayton, which filed the lawsuit, and against the state, writing it was illegal and unconstitutional to require that an officer be present when cameras were in use.

That court decision stated the restriction unconstitutionally limited “the municipality’s home-rule authority without serving an overriding state interest.”

Youngstown city officials have said numerous times that the unmanned speed cameras were used in school zones because there aren’t enough police officers to patrol those areas.