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* Press release…
The Illinois House today took a bold step toward ending corruption in Illinois by approving legislation State Representative David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) is sponsoring to ban red light cameras in non-home rule communities in Illinois.
House Bill 322 would prohibit non-home rule units of government from enacting or enforcing red light camera ordinances. McSweeney passed the same bill in the House in 2015 and it was killed by former Senator Martin Sandoval.
“I am fighting hard to end the corrupt Illinois red light camera program,” McSweeney said. “These cameras are not about safety. They are all about producing revenue and lining the pockets of political insiders. It is wrong; it is corrupt and it must stop.”
Rep. McSweeney has long been a proponent of banning red light cameras. He believes that red light cameras are more about revenue than improving safety. He said the bribery charges against former State Senator Martin Sandoval provide even more evidence of the need to ban red light cameras.
More than $1 billion in fines have been collected from red light cameras over the past 10 years and multiple people have been indicted for crimes connected to the red-light camera industry.
“When I passed this bill in 2015 in the House, Senator Sandoval helped kill it,” McSweeney said. “Of course, we did not know then what we do know now. This time, I’m hoping for a different result. This legislation is a significant step forward in ending the corrupt red-light camera scam in Illinois.”
The Illinois House approved House Bill 322 by a vote of 84-4. The bill moves to the Illinois Senate for further consideration.
Several members rose during debate to criticize the bill for not applying the ban to home rule jurisdictions. But, in the end, only Reps. Avery Bourne, Will Davis, Diane Pappas and Mark Walker voted “No.”
Voting “Present” were Reps. Jim Durkin, Mike Halpin, Thaddeus Jones (who has a primary opponent), Margo McDermed and Mike Zalewski.
An unusual number of members didn’t vote, including Reps. Tom Bennett, Terri Bryant, Kelly Burke, Anthony DeLuca, Fran Hurley, Stephanie Kifowit, Theresa Mah, Charles Meier, Debbie Meyers-Martin, Lindsey Parkhurst, Bob Rita, Andre Thapedi, Art Turner, Larry Walsh, Chris Welch, Jawaharial Williams and Patrick Windhorst.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 26, 20 @ 1:33 pm
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=== Several members rose during debate to criticize the bill for not applying the ban to home rule jurisdictions. ===
It should.
=== An unusual number of members didn’t vote ===
Guessing they have municipalities in their district’s that make a lot of money from red light cameras.
Comment by Just Observing Wednesday, Feb 26, 20 @ 1:41 pm
===Guessing they have municipalities in their district’s that make a lot of money from red light cameras.===
Batinick voted “yes”, and he’s from plainfield. A home-rule village with red-light cameras.
But that’s not really out of the ordinary for plainfield.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Feb 26, 20 @ 1:49 pm
McSweeny isn’t appreciated by the rank and file Repulbicans…especially those with loyalty to Durkin…they probably didn’t vote, just because they didn’t want to support McSweeny.
Comment by High Times Low Standards Wednesday, Feb 26, 20 @ 2:08 pm
Throwing in a home rule preemption might have put too many legislators on the hot seat with their local mayors.
Comment by phocion Wednesday, Feb 26, 20 @ 2:09 pm
It’s a good start. Just let some of the home-rule units stumble and another bill will be filed later on to wipe them out, too.
Comment by Wylie Coyote Wednesday, Feb 26, 20 @ 2:28 pm
== Just let some of the home-rule units stumble and another bill will be filed later on to wipe them out, too.== It is worth pointing out that to date, every municipality that has been involved with the SafeSpeed scandal is home rule. So this is nothing more than window dressing.
Comment by Smalls Wednesday, Feb 26, 20 @ 2:50 pm
What about the current contracts?
Comment by NoGifts Wednesday, Feb 26, 20 @ 3:01 pm
A full ban is inappropriate. A temporary halt and review is better, but that doesn’t make for the same awesome PR.
We need to embrace technology and learn to use it correctly.
Comment by Just Me 2 Wednesday, Feb 26, 20 @ 3:59 pm
Just Me 2
==We need to embrace technology and learn to use it correctly.==
Part of “correctly” is running the tickets through the court system, where the “adjudicator” is NOT paid from the proceeds of the tickets (and violations are reported to SoS and insurance companies).
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 26, 20 @ 4:05 pm
Mary Werner, Mayor of the Village of Worth is a big fan of red light cameras. The big one catching everyone is at the corner of 111th and Harlem. The village is non home rule so this legislation will force the removal of this camera. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that this bill passes.
Comment by Road trauma Wednesday, Feb 26, 20 @ 4:35 pm
Harlem Avenue through worth is also State Highway 43. I am guessing since the state is not banned from RLC on state routes, this would potentially be a takeover site.
Comment by Touré's Latte Thursday, Feb 27, 20 @ 8:10 am