Heading to Governor Mike Dewine's desk is House Bill 206.  The proposed piece of legislation would allow a handful of local police departments to operate on Interstate Highway Systems.

The jurisdictions include Austintown, Liberty, Hubbard, and Weathersfield, all with access to Interstate 80.

The legislation contains the following provisions:

 - The highway is part of the interstate highway system;
 - The township has a population between 5,000 and 50,000 residents;
 - Township Trustees grant authority to patrol the applicable interstate;
 - The highway is located within the township officer's jurisdiction; and
 - There is a permanent access point on and off the highway located within the  - jurisdiction and open to the public.
 - A provision within the bill also allows township trustees to revoke the authority through a subsequent resolution if they so choose.

Lawmakers believe the collaboration of Ohio State Highway Patrol, which currently enforce traffic laws on interstates, and township police departments could help improve the safety of these roadways.

Local State Rep. Al Cutrona co-sponsored the bill, telling 21 News he believes this will help alleviate issues of sex and drug-trafficking in the area, and throughout the state.

Weathersfield Police Chief Mike Naples tells 21 News the proposed bill would allow them to help in instances where someone may be stranded, or traffic is bottled up. 

While many are on-board when it comes to the safety aspects of the bill, there is a lot of concerns as police department resources are stretched thin.

"It's really undoable in the environment, you know the current policing situation,", said Rick Hernandez, a Hubbard Township Trustee.

The big elephant in the room is revenue as most of the money raised through fines, by the townships, will go to the county's treasury for highway maintenance and repairs.

"Really it's unfair to a resident, a taxpayer that's paying their police department to police their community," Hernandez added.

In Austintown, police chief Bob Gavalier, also not a proponent of the bill.

"We have less police officers on the road and really don't have enough officers to send down there and start enforcing the traffic laws," Gavalier explained.

Gavalier in accord with many others that his department will offer assistance when needed, but says when it comes to setting up speed traps and writing tickets, they have enough business to attend to on their own roads.

"Other than enforcing laws, taking care of accidents in the township, and doing reports, investigation criminal complaints...we have our hands full," Gavalier adds.