Gurnee getting red-light cameras

Gurnee became the latest suburb Monday night to approve installation of red-light cameras at six busy intersections.

Village trustees voted in favor of the three-year deal with RedFlex Traffic Systems Inc. Gurnee will pay $66,500 to RedFlex each month for operating the photo enforcement at approaches to the six intersections but won't owe more than the amount of cash collected from violators.

Police officials and other backers say safety is the main reason the red-light cameras are needed. Opponents say the gizmos are more about creating a new revenue stream and don't reduce vehicle crashes at busy intersections.

Vehicle owners -- not drivers -- will get $100 tickets for red-light violations. An appeals process will be established for the tickets, which aren't considered moving violations.

Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik said the cameras will be valuable because police cannot patrol every intersection 24 hours a day. She said the cameras aren't meant to be a revenue source.

"We are only going to continue enforcing what we do today," Kovarik said.

But Trustee Greg Garner, one of two dissenters on the red-light cameras, said the money collected from violators will be more like another local tax. He also said the cameras will cause more rear-end crashes.

"I just think you're asking everyone to pay for a few people who run red lights," Garner said.

Chicago has had cameras mounted at intersections to nab red-light violators since 2003. The suburbs in Chicago and St. Louis gained the ability to install red-light cameras after a new state law was signed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2006.

Red-light cameras will be established at the following Gurnee intersections:

• Route 132 and Hunt Club Road.

• Route 41 and Delany Road.

• Route 132 and Dilleys Road.

• Route 21 and Washington Street.

• Route 132 and Route 21.

• Washington Street and Hunt Club Road.