Supreme Court heard arguments on the controversial red light camera ordinance
enacted by the city of Chicago back in 2003. Plaintiffs for the class argue
that cameras were approved and installed by the city prior to the state legislature
passing a law that would allow this type of ticketing system at
intersections.
The
suit contends the technology’s implementation conflicted with state statutes
that sought to keep driving policies consistent across Illinois. It also says a
subsequent state law enabling Chicago’s ordinance — and the installation of
cameras in collar counties and the Metro East area near St. Louis — was
arbitrarily localized and, therefore, in conflict with the state constitution.
The
lawsuit further argues that since the state law (which was passed in 2006) only
applies to Chicago, surrounding collar counties and St. Louis Metro East
counties, it violates that state constitution because which prohibits
“special” or “local” laws in cases when a more general law is possible. The
lawsuit states: “because (the law)’s designation does not distinguish on
the basis of municipal population, congestion, traffic patterns or vehicle
accidents, cities like Springfield and Peoria, pedestrian-dense college towns
like Champaign-Urbana and Bloomington and rapidly-growing suburbs like Oswego,
may not enjoy the financial and claimed safety benefits of red-light cameras
because they are in the ‘wrong’ counties.”
If the
Illinois Supreme Court agrees with the plaintiffs’ arguments, then there will
be thousands of $100 refunds coming back to Illinois citizens.
I find
this lawsuit fascinating because it is looking at a constitutional question as
to whether these laws are valid. I think the more important question is whether the cameras actually make intersections safer. Are there fewer
car accidents in these areas since the installation of the cameras? Opinions
vary on this matter. The city says, yes, that car crashes and traffic fatalities are down in these specific areas. As I’ve written on this blog
before, there have been studies around the country that the cameras actually
make intersections more dangerous and this is nothing more than a revenue
generator for cities and counties. I’m looking forward to seeing the ruling
from the state Supreme Court.
If you
or someone you love has been injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident then call Chicago personal injury attorney, Aaron Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.