Call them right-turn-on-red cameras

Many of our local villages have put up "red light cameras". Have you ever really looked at these cameras? They would be more appropriately named right-turn-on-red cameras. They are not pointed at the entire intersection. They are pointed at the right turn lanes to catch those not coming to a complete stop before turning right on a red light. I am not condoning not stopping before turning right on red. But the local governments are inappropriately telling the taxpayers that these cameras are for our safety and to help control the running of red lights. In fact, they are only moneymaking machines to nab those who even almost stop completely. They are not stopping the cars running through the red light while we are waiting on green. They are not stopping the 3 or 4 drivers who continue to turn left after their light turns red. Many of these intersections are now more hazardous because people are stopping on yellow and causing rear-end collisions. Near my office many cars just sit and wait for the green even though they are allowed to turn. This is causing more traffic congestion and us to use more gas. Isn't it bad enough that the local governments can't rein in their spending to lower the property tax bills and we are faced with higher taxes on lower valued property? Now they have to hit us up in our own neighborhoods because they need even more money. Maybe what the taxpayers really need are cameras in the village halls.

Dennis Romanowski

Carol Stream