Village defends red-light cameras; Gurnee officials answer skeptics

Plenty of questions about Gurnee's red-light cameras surfaced Wednesday night, including whether officers will lose street time to judge violations and the possibility the program was delayed until after the April election to benefit the mayor.

Gurnee police and Mayor Kristina Kovarik hosted the first of three public forums on the photo enforcement system, which starts later this month with a 30-day warning period.

The next forum will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, at Woodland Intermediate School in Gurnee.

"There's a lot of misinformation out there. ... What the mind doesn't know, it makes up," Kovarik told about 25 spectators in village hall.

During Wednesday's first forum, Gurnee police crime prevention technician Tom Agos tried to provide facts and dispel myths about red-light cameras.

Agos said tickets will be issued only to drivers entering an intersection on a red light - not yellow.

He also said right turns on red won't be a problem if drivers make a complete stop at a line and proceed if it's safe.

Gurnee resident Lou Bunk asked Agos how far behind an intersection someone must stop before turning red and what happens if a car goes over the white line.

Agos said a $100 fine could be levied if someone's car crossed the line, stopped and then went right on red.

However, said Agos, police and other personnel will get the final word before a ticket is issued and they'll want to see if a complete stop is made before the right turn, even it was past the line.

"I would be very, very surprised if you get a citation for that," Agos said.

About 14 Gurnee officers and other personnel have been trained to review photo enforcement offenses. Deputy Police Chief Kevin Woodside said the ticket review will be part of an officer's shift, meaning some time will be lost off the street.

Kovarik answered a question about whether the red-light cameras were intentionally delayed until after the April 7 election that she won, saying the system couldn't be installed sooner. She said she brought up her support of the cameras during the campaign, so she wasn't hiding from anything.

"I am very proud of this program," Kovarik said. "I have faith in it."

Red-light camera critics contend the devices are more about raking in more revenue than creating safe intersections. The opponents also say the gizmos trigger more rear-end collisions because skittish drivers often slam their brakes when lights turn yellow.

Agos pointed to statistics from some areas of the country showing the cameras have reduced crashes at intersections by at least 30 percent.

Gurnee's cameras will be active at the following intersections:

• Route 132, also known as Grand Avenue, at Dilley's Road by KeyLime Cove and Six Flags Great America.

• Route 132 at Hunt Club Road near Gurnee Mills.

• Route 41 at Delany Road.

• Route 132 at Route 21.

Retired Lake County Circuit Judge Henry Tonigan will be a hearing officer for red-light camera ticket appeals in Gurnee.

Defends: 4 Gurnee intersections will have cameras