Editorial: Red-light camera a cash grab in Lakemoor

There's a bill still waiting to be heard in the Illinois Senate that would outlaw red-light cameras in nonhome-rule communities.

In the spring, we said we supported the legislation as long as it includes an appeal provision to enable these smaller communities to consider limited use of the technology to help solve "a specific and especially egregious traffic safety problem."

Fast forward to Wednesday's Daily Herald and Suburban Tax Watchdog Jake Griffin's article on the community of Lakemoor in Lake County and supporters of such a law have the perfect example of why the bill is needed

Griffin reports that the red-light camera at routes 12 and 120 is expected to net $1.8 million in revenue - 36 percent of the small village's entire income for 2015. It represents the largest single source of revenue by ticketing on average 50 cars a day.

Last year, the village collected more than $2.2 million or 43 percent of the total revenue from the cameras and in 2013 the cameras brought in $2.4 million or 45.5 percent of the total revenue.

And most of that revenue comes from motorists who don't make a complete stop before turning right on red - not for blowing through the light.

It's a busy intersection - more than 50,000 vehicles pass through on those highways each day. But is it safer with the red-light cameras?

Illinois Department of Transportation data says no.

The intersection saw more crashes in the first full year of the cameras in 2013, and the number of crashes involving injuries also increased. In 2014, initial figures show fewer crashes but with just as many injuries as before the cameras were installed.

It seems clear to us that the village is using the cameras as a moneymaker rather than solving a significant traffic safety issue. And that's how it looks to state Rep. David McSweeney, author of the pending bill, as well.

"My view is this has never been about safety," the Barrington Hills Republican told Griffin.

It's these types of scenarios that led communities to pull back on red-light policing as the public and politicians took aim at their policies. Our view has always been to support red-light cameras where they are doing good, but to denounce their placement when they appear to do nothing but bring in more cash.

In Lakemoor, they are using most of the money to pay for a new $6 million village hall and police headquarters. The mayor, Todd Weihofen, said officials won't become dependent on the revenue.

We're hoping they won't, because we are urging the Illinois Senate to follow the House lead and approve McSweeney's bill. Lakemoor could be the poster child for why it's needed.