Suburbs raking in red-light cam bucks
Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I know people hate red-light cams, but if they take a little pressure off taxation, then it’s kinda tough to argue against them…
Red-light cameras brought in nearly $67 million last year for 86 Chicago suburbs and the companies that operate the devices, an investigation by the Chicago Sun-Times and ABC7 Chicago’s I-Team has found.
Fines collected from drivers accused of running red lights in the suburbs now far surpass the amount of money reaped by the city of Chicago’s extensive and unpopular network, the Sun-Times and ABC7 found.
Between the start of 2014 and the end of last year, cameras in the suburbs brought in a total of nearly $170 million, according to records obtained from suburban governments throughout the area.
And the Sun-Times/ABC7 analysis of those documents shows suburban red-light revenues are rising sharply every year, as more and more local governments install cameras at intersections. The total collected from cameras in the suburbs increased almost 50 percent between 2014 and 2016.
* But then you see stuff like this…
About 95 percent of suburbanites getting tickets are accused of making illegal right turns against a red light, Wallace estimates. Bertuca, the Berwyn attorney, agrees that about 95 percent of the cases he sees in traffic court involve drivers turning right. […]
Although a federal study in 2010 found that right turns were factors in just 1.2 percent of crashes, red-light camera operators and municipal officials say the cameras are about safety first, not money.
They’re about the money. C’mon.
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:53 pm:
…about safety first, not money. Really?
- A guy - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:56 pm:
They’re only about the money. They hurt commerce wherever they are. People avoid them. I certainly do.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:57 pm:
It isn’t really red light cams, it’s video gaming and we’re the cherries.
- Federalist - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 2:08 pm:
It’s about the money and any other excuse is just a ruse.
- Texas Red - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 2:11 pm:
They are arguably unconstitutional, based on both 5th and 6th amendment grounds. Most on point the confrontation clause (6th amendment) is a bit one sided when the witness against you is a camera.
- Longsummer - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 2:13 pm:
95% of tickets being on right turns tell you everything you need to know about this scam. Outlaw this ridiculousness.
- Bogey Golfer - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 2:20 pm:
Intersections on some routes have 3 through lanes and 2 left-turn lanes in each direction (e.g. Route 83 and 22nd St. in Oak Brook), there is no way left-turn movements can clear the intersection during the yellow light phase. Someone is always getting ticketed on every cycle.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 2:24 pm:
If I ever get one of those tickets, I will insist on my Sixth Amendment right to confront my accuser in open court.
That aside, these cameras have been quite the score for the West Suburban crew. Lot of steak dinners at Tom’s on North Avenue.
- Inspector Gadget - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 2:24 pm:
Lets hope the state moves to abolish them ASAP.They are a complete rip off.
- Regressive tax - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 2:24 pm:
This is an extremely regressive “tax.” $100 for a right turn on red? Brutal for many working people.
- Ractin - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 2:26 pm:
Yep. I got a citation in North Riverside in Feb after getting rear ended and sliding into the intersection. My argument didnt meet the criteria to dismiss. $55.
- NobodysAccountable - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 2:49 pm:
What is the goal of having red light cameras or traffic cameras? Is the local government trying to make money, change driving habits or both? Something needs to be done to curtail the terrible driving witnessed by all of us daily.
- Jump before the train wrecks - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 2:49 pm:
Springfield Drivers are horrible at running red lights… NOT right turn either. They could fix their budget issues if they get them ONLY for straight ahead light running.
- Smitty Irving - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 2:51 pm:
IF safety had anything to do with it, they’d be run through the court system and reported to insurance companies. Proof of the “rot” they’ve introduced? IL Supremes dismissed a case saying they were illegal. The vote was 3-2 they were, but 2 justices were forced to recuse themselves, meaning 4 vote requirement was not met. Rot.
- Skeptic - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 2:54 pm:
So how about this, if they’re about the money, make them about the money. Charge *everyone* who goes through that intersection, kind of like a toll. (Yes I realize it’s a bit impractical, but it’s a compromise, right?)
- NobodysAccountable - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 2:55 pm:
It appears everyone forgot about right turn on red after coming to a complete stop ensuring the lane is clear with no oncoming traffic.
- Anonymoose - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 3:04 pm:
@Skeptic At least it would drop the pretense that it’s about safety but the virtue of honesty isn’t about to win the day.
- Ron - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 3:10 pm:
We need more of this as a tax funder and less property and income taxes. Tax the scofflaws and the poorly educated. They cost society the most.
- AC - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 3:22 pm:
There are much better ways of reducing injuries at intersections, roundabouts work great, even when they’re put in area where people (initially) aren’t that familiar with them. When I’m in areas with red light cameras, I usually prioritize the light. That means I’ve had a few close calls from people following too closely when I’m in red light camera areas.
- Ed Higher - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 3:38 pm:
Red light camera $$$ simply means politicians too gutless to do progressive taxation. When they cut “taxes” but need money, guess where it comes from? Joe Sixpack who was 1/10 of a second too slow going thru intersection.
- Ron - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 3:46 pm:
Ed Higher, it is unconstitutional to have progressive taxation in Illinois.
- Ahoy! - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 3:56 pm:
I”m actually a supporter of the red light camera’s but only under a couple conditions:
1. Money raised should go directly to improving safety.
2. The camera’s should be a problem intersections and there should be a nexus for their placement.
Let’s just put some better restrictions on their use and restrict what funding could be used for, make them an enterprise fund like we do for sewage fees.
- Jake From Elwood - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 4:07 pm:
Not a fan.
But I fought the law and I won at an administrative hearing.
- Harry - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 4:10 pm:
Of course they are about money, but I think there are legal issues with using traffic control for revenue rather than safety or traffic flow.
- Ron - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 4:19 pm:
If you blow a stop sign or red light, you should get fined.
Simple stuff.
- plutocrat03 - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 4:19 pm:
Sixth Amendment right to confront my accuser in open court.
You don’t have that right, it’s been tried. A red light ticket is an administrative matter.
- Tim - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 5:22 pm:
I’ve never received one of these tickets, and I drive 25,000 miles a year. However, my wife got one… and of course it was for a right turn on red. $100 to Rosemont.
- Longsummer - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 7:22 pm:
Thanks Law and Order, Ron. Dude, do you make your limo driver pay red light tickets on your behalf? I bet he fits your criteria of “poorly educated.” Do you call him that to his face?
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 8:06 pm:
Ron. Did Chicago invent the red light camera? Lol.
- anon2 - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 9:52 pm:
If turning right on red without stopping is safe, then make it legal. That would end RLC. If it’s not safe, however, to permit drivers to not even slow down before zipping around the corner, then enforce the law.
- Late to the Party - Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 7:20 am:
I would welcome some cameras in my neighborhood. It seems that the word “stop” has come to mean “maybe slow a bit but generally 20 MPH = stop.”