St. Charles OK with traffic cameras

Zoom through a red light in St. Charles, and a camera might soon be zooming in on you.

A city committee on Monday voted 8-1 in favor of installing video cameras at six intersections where drivers are known to run red lights.

If approved next by the city council, St. Charles would become the latest in a growing list of communities to try catching violators on video.

"I don't accept the idea that it's OK as long as you get away with it," said 3rd Ward Alderman William Turner. "This is a real good opportunity, safety-wise."

With recent state legislation clearing the way, suburbs such as Gurnee, Wood Dale and Rolling Meadows already agreed this year to install traffic cameras.

In St. Charles, officials plan to sign a contract with Arizona-based Redflex Traffic Systems, which would monitor the cameras and mail out $100 tickets.

The city would pay $4,395 a month for the service, but the cost will be recouped through the citations, said Redflex sales director Mark Etzbach.

Police will have the final say about who gets a ticket, and violators will be able to watch the video of themselves breaking the law.

Etzbach said the indisputable is key to cutting red light violations by 60 percent, as other communities have experienced.

"You're going to see the public safety impact you're looking for," he told alderman Monday.

Police Chief Jim Lamkin said he wants to put the first cameras at the often congested intersection of West Main (Route 64) and Second (Route 31) streets.

Cameras later would be added at Randall Road and Lincoln Highway (Route 38); Second and Illinois streets; East Main Street and Kirk Road; East Main Street and Kautz Road; and East Main Street and Dunham Road.

The first camera could go up before the end of the year, officials said, though they do not have a solid deadline.

First Ward Alderman Ron Silkaitis, who voted against the measure, reiterated previous comments that he simply is "not comfortable with having cameras around."