Chicago Red Light Cameras

A little more analysis of the data would be useful. For example, did the city tamper with the yellow light timing at these intersections? And what was the nature of the accidents? Were they mostly rear enders just as the light changed, or were they unconnected to the camera's operation? Certainly the broadsides mentioned were not connected.

I don't think I'm the only one here who can say that they slammed on the gas upon seeing a light turn yellow as they were going through a picture taking light... there's nothing like that flash in your rear view mirror to make your adrenaline jump and make you double check to make sure you did clear that intersection in time...

These need to be banned everywhere, Chicago included. Unfortunately, the lure of easy money is too great for most politicians to pass up.

I agree. There was a sister article to the one spokybob posted. I could not believe what I read!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-red-light-corner-22-n...

Safety wasn't even a concern at this intersection! So infuriating.

it makes me sick

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=340301

It would be far more cost effective to put up dummy cameras. It's almost like there's a disconnect between safety and the cameras.

There is no disconnect in Chicago. Da Mayor knows that those cameras are connected to the wallets of the drivers. There is no concern for safety, ONLY money. Why do you think the Moron sold the parking meters... money. Now we have to pay a private company to park on public streets. Follow the money...

Hurrumph!!!!
(I live in the burbs of chitcago...)

BTW.. I love your avatar.
I almost got a mini-14 a few weeks ago..but the seller, after settling the deal no less, sold it to his gf's father the day I was supposed to pick it up..Grrrr..
Its Sunday..perhaps I should head to the range today.

Thanks on the avatar.
It makes a statement on its own and if you don't like the position of owning a firearm you deserve to be a slave... just don't call on me to save you.

Thanks on the avatar.
It makes a statement on its own and if you don't like the position of owning a firearm you deserve to be a slave... just don't call on me to save you.

I drive past this intersection nearly 6 times a day. It coninually takes oictures even when a car is not in the turn lane. Many complaints from people getting false tickets from this camera.

I drive past this intersection nearly 6 times a day. It coninually takes oictures even when a car is not in the turn lane. Many complaints from people getting false tickets from this camera.

these machines are retarded and cause more accidents then would happen without them there. Just another way for the government to rape us...

You have very slow moving traffic and your following other vehicles and it's like someone is watching the intersection and trips the light. and your stuck between no mans land.

Here's hoping that Senate Bill 2466 passes.

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/29/2963.asp

Couldn't agree more. But what do you bet that Redspeed has papered the house with campaign contributions in the language that state legislators relate to best?

Considering IL overall..I have very little 'hope' for this 'change'...

Maybe..maybe...if the planets were lined up, and most of this state got off its stoopid-pills, there would be legit changes and common sense to experience.

I'm close to barrington(home of the rep that introduced this bill), and ya..folks around here hate them..and KNOW they are just revenue generators. But you have Cap'n Quinn that taxinator in charge. There could be movement, but it remains to see how far it goes.

This is the state that took 1.5 years to change the law on tinted windows!!! (It was 'close' 5 months ago..but it went back for 'clarification'. Yes. IL is full of MORONS.. Its shameful)

You are right about King Richard II

Couldn't agree more.

totally got it right. i live on the south side, and i notice that within a three mile vincity, there is about 10 cameras around where i live and one of those intersections that doesn't have a camera, has one of the highest accidents in the area including where the truck plowed right into the train station but one block over where there was hardly accidents, there is a camera placed there and 1/2 mile there is another camera. but i did notice that both those intersections where there are camera are very close to Expressways, coincidences? On Roosevelt and State all the way to the expressway at Roosevelt and Halsted there is about 4-5 Cameras there. One after another

as noted consistently, red light cameras are just a toll, a tax on the motorist. If a government, doesn't matter if it is local, city, state, federal, had an infinite amount of money, it would still not be nearly enough.

One can never find enough "worthy programs" to spend money on when it is not your money.

These cameras have never been about safety - only money.

Another study documenting the lucidity of the "safer intersection" with red light cameras.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-red-light-cameras-sub...

Just got done watching that on the 9 PM news a little while ago.

I have not seen any comments of people who had accidents at red light intersections and the use of the photo to resolve insurance clams.

The flash light might cause the problem because sometimes I thought I violate the red light when I am in the middle of the intersection and the flash light fires.

"Red-light cameras: First 14 installed in suburbs show mixed results
Accidents rise in half the affected intersections

By Erika Slife and Bob Secter Tribune reporters

8:01 a.m. CST, December 18, 2009

If improved safety is the goal of red-light cameras, then it is a mission largely unaccomplished for the first crop of area suburbs that raced to install the devices after they became legal in 2006, according to state data.

Accidents rose -- in some cases, significantly -- at half the 14 suburban intersections outfitted with traffic cameras by the end of 2007, the data show. The number of crashes fell at just five of those intersections after cameras went in, while two showed little change.

At Mannheim and St. Charles roads in Bellwood, collisions rose from 17 the year before cameras appeared to 24 the year after. Melrose Park put a camera at 1st and North avenues, near the now-closed Kiddieland Amusement Park, and crashes increased from 56 the year before installation to 73 the year after.

The most striking results come from Oak Lawn, which in September 2007 switched on cameras at the very busy junction of Cicero Avenue and 95th Street.

In 2006, before cameras, that intersection was the scene of one broadside crash -- the dangerous type of collision that cameras are said to be most aimed at reducing. By 2008, with cameras, the total of broadsides had risen to five. Overall, the number of crashes of all types rose from 34 in 2006 to 44 in 2008, according to state data.

Roger Pawlowski, a division chief at the Oak Lawn Police Department, said the benefits of red-light cameras can't always be extrapolated from crash statistics.

The suburban crash numbers, compiled by the Illinois Department of Transportation from local police reports, reflect a similar accident trend as that found in state data on city intersections with cameras. The Tribune reported last month that IDOT records showed collisions either increasing or holding steady at nearly 60 percent of the 47 city intersections equipped with red-light cameras in 2006 or 2007."

Read the rest of the article at http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-red-light-cameras-sub...

Link to AP article and video:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100406/NEWS02/704069816/-...

I saw that article yesterday. When I first started seeing those blinking blue lights high atop light poles, I wondered what on earth those things were. It doesn't bother me that we're under surveillance. I feel safer, especially in questionable neighborhoods.

There was an editorial by Jack Franks in the Northwest Herald yesterday.

http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2010/03/29/r_lt5r6calswcysj...

"Righting red-light wrong

To the Editor:

To supplement the Northwest Herald’s March 24 editorial titled “Senate Looks at Camera Use,” I want to inform your readers about legislation I am working on that addresses exactly what the Northwest Herald is calling for; the elimination of citations issued based on red light camera photos for legal right-on-red turns.

I filed House Bill 4692 last fall to eliminate fines for legal right-on-red turns. More recently, I have begun taking a three-pronged approach to solve this problem, including: 1) filing House Resolution 1059 to urge governments that use red light cameras not to issue citations for legal right-on-red turns; 2) filing House Bill 6841 to have a referendum on the November 2010 ballot on this subject; and 3) preparing petition language so citizens may take up this charge locally if they choose.

I have been an early vocal critic of municipalities that appear to use this technology to boost revenue. Red light technology can improve public safety. However, when 80 percent of tickets issued are for right-turn-on-red violations, the overriding purpose appears to be to generate revenue for municipalities. That is why I have been fighting for changes in the law.

Jack D. Franks

State Representative
Marengo"