Red Light Camera Roundup

Chicago Changing Up Red Light Camera Installation?

In an odd move today, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, Mayor Daley is transferring the installation and maintenance of red light cameras from OEMC to the Dept. of Transportation.

I have no idea if that also means Transportation will oversee the entire program, or what the ramifications will be. But we'll get to the bottom of it.

Aurora's Red Light Cameras Go Live Today!

West suburban Aurora has three RLCs at three intersections that went live September 20th but were only sending warnings by mail for the first 30 days.

But playtime is over as, according to the Daily Herald, starting today, October 20, cameras at all three locations will begin issuing $100 tickets for violations.

Aurora's red light cameras are located at:

• New York Street at Farnsworth Avenue eastbound
• New York Street and Commons Drive both east and westbound
• Farnsworth and Molitor both north and southbound

Naperville's Two Cameras Went Live October 1

Another west suburban town, Naperville has two red light cameras that start issuing $100 fines as of October 1.

The cameras are located at:

• Route 59 and Diehl Road (northbound/southbound)
• Ogden Avenue and Aurora Avenue (northbound and westbound)

DuPage County May End Right On Red Tickets

DuPage County is considering employing RLC technology at some county controlled intersections. However, according to the Daily Herald, many DuPage County board members would be opposed to allowing the enforcement of right turn on red violations at these intersections.

If this policy was passed, it would also restrict enforcing right turn on red at the many intersections within the city limits of the over a dozen municipalities currently employing RLC in their towns.

The Herald has done some great reporting showing suburban municipalities were using or abusing RLC primarily for revenue generation and not for safety by busting drivers making rolling right on red turns.

Lakemoor Considering Red Light Cameras

The Herald reports northwest suburban Lakemoor is considering a single RLC at Route 12 & Route 120.

However, it's not a done deal as it seems that not all village board members are on board with the idea.

Tribune's Red Light Camera Rescue

U.S. Air Force member Brian Young got a red light ticket in Elk Grove Village, just before he was deployed overseas and so, never saw his ticket. While on duty, the ticket has gone unpaid and has doubled.

What's Your Problem columnist Jon Yates went to bat for Young and got Elk Grove to see the error of their ways. They reduced the RLC ticket to it's original $100.

He Fought The Law And...Won!

A motorist got nailed for rolling through a red light on camera in Lake Zurich, but fought back.

The driver says tree branches obscured the camera's view and therefore the ticket should be dismissed.

Guess what? It did get dismissed.

Read all the details at the Chicago Tribune.

Milwaukee Mayor Pushing For RLCs

Another major city with a budget deficit, our great neighbor to the north, Milwaukee, Wisconsin is considering red light cameras to generate much needed revenue.

Mayor Tom Barrett, is pushing for it, but state legislators would have to OK RLCs, and that doesn't look likely according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Editorial Asks For Statewide Ban Of Red Light Cameras

The Carol Stream Press newspaper came out in support of a ban on all red light cameras statewide.