Elgin crossings camera-ready

Red light, camera -- stop!

That's what Elgin city leaders hope more motorists think and do next month when a 30-day trial is expected to begin for red-light cameras at 13 intersections.

"We're not trying to be Big Brother. We're trying to enhance safety," said Mayor Ed Schock. "We don't have enough officers -- no city does -- to put at every intersection."

The Elgin city council Wednesday did not voice any opposition to the trial period with Arizona-based Redflex. The measure heads for final approval Jan. 9.

If the trial period -- in which violations will be recorded but no fines levied -- is successful, the city plans to ink a deal with Redflex to install and monitor a citywide network.

Elgin police Chief Lisa Womack said if a contract is approved, Redflex will monitor the cameras and the department must sign off on each citation issued.

She said the cameras will focus strictly on red-light violations, but the department has the ability to review video from the non-rotating cameras upon request.

"This will allow an infinite increase in red light enforcement," she said. "This meets a very serious need that we've identified."

The intersections are: Big Timber Road and McLean Boulevard; Lillian Street and McLean; McLean and Route 20 (eastbound); Chicago Street and Shales Parkway; Bowes Road and McLean; Liberty and Summit streets; Liberty and Villa streets; McLean and Larkin Avenue; Kimball and State streets and Dundee Avenue and Summit.

Police have said more locations, such as Randall Road, and state routes could be added after the feasibility study is done and a contract signed with Redflex.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, research shows red-light cameras help reduce side-impact crashes, and reduce overall injury crashes up to 25 percent.

Redflex has contracts with 180 cities across the country and 17 in Illinois, including Chicago since 2003.