Speed enforcement cameras can be used to catch speeders in the town of Oberlin, an attorney general ruling said.

The state said the town can hire a law enforcement officer as a code enforcement officer to enforce the town’s speed enforcement device ordinance.

Under the ruling, the code enforcement officer would be allowed to issue traffic citations and would be under the authority and administration of the police chief.

Mayor Larry Alexander sought the opinion regarding whether the mayor can hire an individual in the position of code enforcement officer for the purpose of enforcing the municipal ordinance regarding speed enforcement devices, in this case a handheld speed safety camera.

Alexander also asked for clarification if the officer would be under the authority and administration of the police chief or mayor.

In an opinion released this week, Assistant Attorney General Amanda M. LaGroue concluded that the town may hire a law enforcement officer to the position of code enforcement officer to enforce the speed enforcement device ordinance enacted by the town. The code enforcement officers would be under the authority and administration of the police chief.

The town must post signs notifying drivers they are being monitored by mobile speed cameras.

The town paused the program using cameras to crack down on speeders in 2023 after residents and parish officials raised concerns about “gray area” of the program.

Among those concerns, questions were raised about the legality of the town hiring an out-of-town police officer and using an unmarked car to run the speed enforcement program using a radar gun and camera. The cameras are designed to take a photo of a vehicle license plate if the driver is speeding, then a speeding ticket is sent to the vehicle’s owner.