Kane County OKs red-light camera rules

Kane County has cleared the way for towns that want to install red-light cameras at intersections with county roads.

On Tuesday, the Kane County Board adopted a policy on the cameras that would allow towns to collect the revenue from them but let the county have access to towns' camera reports.

County oversight, along with a $450 permit fee, will allow the county to set the amount of time after a yellow or red light the cameras take a picture to send a ticket, said transportation chairman Jan Carlson, an Elburn Republican.

That will help ensure that towns are using the cameras for safety, not for revenue, he said.

"Our purpose is simply to see how the system is being used," he said.

The county isn't planning red-light cameras for county intersections anytime soon, because most don't meet the traffic requirements to install those, said Phil Bus, county development director.

It is possible that the county will look into those in the future, he said.

Board members Paul Greviskes, an Aurora Democrat, and Deborah Allan, an Elgin Republican, said they didn't like the idea of the cameras in general and voted against the policies.

"I don't think you can legislate common sense," Allan said. "I think government overreaches when it does that."

Most board members, however, said it was a matter of public safety.

"Times have changed," said Rudy Neuberger, an Aurora Democrat. "Yellow used to mean caution, slow down. Now it means hurry up and get through, you've got 10 more seconds."

Bill Wyatt, an Aurora Republican, said the cameras were no different than stationing a police officer at a dangerous intersection.

"I have a gut feeling there will be a reduction in the number of accidents, and a lessening in the severity," he said.

Several towns are considering red-light cameras at intersections including county roads, Bus said. The policies adopted Tuesday have the support of local mayors and administrators, he said.