The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission (OTIC) members, including OTIC Executive Director Ferzan Ahmed, gave Prosecutor DeGenova and State Rep. Lauren McNally a tour of the Mahoning Valley (westbound) Turnpike Service Plaza. The tour aimed to view camera technology implemented to ensure travelers’ safety and combat criminal activity like human trafficking.
This follows legislation introduced by Rep. McNally called House Bill 473. This legislation will require the maintenance of a system of security cameras at each rest area over which the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has jurisdiction, a total of 85 rest stops in Ohio.
“I am excited to see HB 473 come to life, and I commend Rep. McNally for her work on this proposed legislation. Human traffickers often use transportation hubs to recruit victims of sex trafficking. Once recruited, traffickers rely on transportation systems to transport victims to places where they will be abused and exploited,” said Prosecutor DeGenova. “The installation of cameras will serve as a vital tool in trafficking investigations and prosecutions.”