As I have written multiple times the last few months, red light cameras have been under close scrutiny here in Chicago, especially during this mayoral election year. The scrutiny hit a tipping point a few weeks back, when city hall decided to remove red light cameras in fifty (50) different intersections across the city
A tipping point has been met in Florida. Time magazine recently reported that two (2) judges threw out 24,000 red light cameras because the enforcement procedure violated state law. an Arizona-based vendor named American Traffic Solutions was responsible for reviewing the footage captured by red light cameras in Florida, and then it forwarded the specifics on to police. Judges ruled that the involvement by the out-of-state party is itself a violation of state law, hence the decision to negate traffic citations worth $6.3 million.
The article pointed out that more and more municipalities are dumping their red light camera programs. The state of New Jersey ended its red light camera program at the end of 2014, while officials and driver advocates in New York City have been demanding more transparency to red light camera systems—because there’s reason to be skeptical about the claims they actually improve driver and pedestrian safety.
What will happen in Chicago? Despite recent studies questioning the safety of red light cameras, allegations of fraud and short yellow light time, I believe it will be status quo. Red light cameras will not be going anywhere.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer, Aaron Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.