Not so fast, drivers.
A group of bills pending before the Illinois General Assembly is looking to put the brakes on red light cameras throughout the Chicago area.
The proposals are seeking to limit or ban the use of cameras that snap pictures of motorists who ignore traffic signals.
“I want to stop the red light racket,” said state Sen. Dan Duffy (R-Barrington). “It’s completely unfair. It has nothing to do with a red light, it has to do with raising money.”
Duffy’s plan is one of a handful of proposals before the Illinois Legislature that deal with the use of controversial red light cameras.
Proposals range from imposing new limits on how the red light cameras are used to Duffy’s call for an outright ban anywhere except around railroad crossings and road construction.
Camera proponents say the cameras force motorists to slow down when approaching intersections and make travel safer by reducing crashes. Opponents, meanwhile, say the devices only serve to enrich local governments and endanger more people by causing drivers to brake quickly to avoid costly fines.
Red light cameras are already in use in a number of towns throughout the Southland, including Oak Lawn, Orland Park and Worth.
Duffy says he’s opposed to them because he believes they’re geared more toward bringing in money for local governments and the companies that operate the cameras than improving safety. Motorists who try to defend themselves also face an uphill battle, Duffy said.
“I get hundreds and hundreds of e-mails on this,” Duffy said. “You’re guilty until you prove yourself innocent.”
Dan Persky, an attorney for the Chicago-based Active Transportation Alliance, said his organization opposes any legislation that would limit or ban the use of red light cameras. Persky said they cause motorists to pay greater attention around intersections and increase safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and other drivers.
He’d like revenue from tickets to go toward improving road safety in areas that have the cameras in place.
“In order to reduce traffic crashes in general, we need to reduce speeds,” Persky said. “And we need cars to stop.”
Duffy’s plan is scheduled for a hearing this afternoon before the Senate Transportation Committee. He said he’s unsure of its prospects, but thinks people “are going to go nuts” if it doesn’t pass.
But Worth Police Chief John M. Scarpino said the cameras allow officers to focus on more pressing duties while maintaining traffic safety. He calls the cameras a “win-win” and opposes legislation to ban them.
Instead, Scarpino said he supports more uniformity in how the cameras are used.
Crashes have decreased at the Worth intersections that have the cameras in place, Scarpino said. And, at least in Worth, statistics show a reduction in the number of rear-end crashes since the cameras went up in 2008, he said.
Sworn officers review each alleged incident before a ticket is sent out, Scarpino said. The fine is $100 per ticket, Scarpino said.
“The program, from what I can see, is all positive,” Scarpino said. “We set out to reduce crashes and we did it just by having photo enforcement. It’s a sore spot for people because no one wants to get a ticket.”
But Hugo Blanco, of Palos Heights, said he felt the cameras are a “scam.”
Blanco, who was at a hearing Monday in Worth to protest a red light camera ticket, said he did not feel there were adequate warning signs at the intersection.
“This is a scam. They take the money from your pocket,” Blanco said. “They’re supposed to protect the people, not scam them.”
The village hearing officer ruled against Blanco, though, and now he plans to appeal the ticket to a judge.
Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services