The Ohio Legislature is considering a bill that would eliminate mayor's courts in communities with populations below 1,000.

That would put the Lucas and Butler mayor's courts out of business.

Ontario Mayor's Court would continue operating, and will handle ,1800 traffic, drunk driving, and misdemeanor criminal cases this year.

Mayor Larry Collins says if all those cases were dumped off on Mansfield Municipal Court its backlog would grow to an unmanageable level.  So, he believes mayor's court serves a useful purpose. 

The court is in session each Thursday, with Attorney Amy Skropits presiding as magistrate.
Collins takes mayor's court training, but prefers not to handle cases.

Collins says Ontario Mayor's Court is well-run, and the police do not use its existance as an excuse to hand-out speeding tickets at a rate that would give the city a reputation as a speed trap, as many consider the small community of Linndale near Cleveland.

Ontario Mayor's Court will generate about $240,000 this year, with some of that money going to the state.

The court has also collected $400,000 in past due fines over the last three years.