Fear factors and bloated government - readers hot on red lights

I was barreling along I-80/90 in Indiana en route to Vactionland, not a care in the world, when suddenly a squad car came into view followed shortly by flashing lights in the mirror.

Oh, irony.

When the state trooper asked, "Do you know why I'm pulling you over?" I wanted to explain I was fleeing work after days spent on the Daily Herald's "Seeing Red" series on traffic cameras and wasn't this a funny coincidence? Something about his unsmiling expression quashed that idea.

Back on the road, sadder but wiser with a $139 ticket, I took consolation in one thing - I had column material.

The idea of looking at the bonanza of red-light cameras across the suburbs came from newsroom editors and colleague and co-writer Joe Ryan when there was still snow on the ground. Myriad Freedom of Information Act requests and Excel spreadsheets later, we reached some intriguing conclusions - like the fact most tickets are for rolling rights on red and that a number of towns want or have cameras at intersections with minimal crashes related to red lights.

At least, my ticket came from a flesh-and-blood police officer. For the numerous people who e-mailed us on this issue, it's a totally different experience when a surveillance camera gets you, as they'll explain.

• Steve Gromala of Warrenville writes, "I received and paid a $100 right on red ticket at the intersection of Biesterfield and I-355. I came to the intersection in a line of cars and tapped my brakes at the intersection and continued through because there was no traffic from the north or from the oncoming left-turn lane. I probably went through at 6 mph and did not come to a complete stop.

From what I saw on-line, the cars ahead of me and behind did not completely stop either and probably received tickets too. If right on red is really such a public safety issue the lawmakers should simply eliminate all legal right on red laws and save the camera money to help balance our budgets."

• Richard Gylling of Palatine asks, "if public officials feel it's really about safety and not revenue - how about making the first ticket a driver receives at an intersection a 'warning ticket' much like an actual police officer can issue? Oops, the revenue model breaks down! Second, why is a right-turn violation citation that is issued by an automated camera $100 versus a police officer-issued ticket $75? Is it legal to have different penalties for the same offense depending on how the ticket is written?"

• Julio Soto says while cameras in Lake in the Hills are well-placed, "I do also believe that these cameras will eventually cause accidents due to the fear of these tickets. There have been many times where vehicles in front of drivers (including myself) have come to a screeching halt the very second the yellow light turns on, when normally the flow and timing of traffic would allow for one or two cars to safely pass by without crossing a red light. I myself find it automatically 'conditioning' me to be extra careful around these cameras and admit I may have put on the brakes pretty hard when the light just barely turned yellow.

"Other times I've seen people completely over-accelerate so they can make it in time through the cameras - only to realize that they are over the speed limit."

• Vince Naccarato of Des Plaines believes that "there are flaws all over this system, and all red-light cameras should be removed. The vehicle I drive is registered to my wife (who is a stay-at-home mom). The violation was sent in her name. She could have fought the violation stating that she stays home all day and does not drive the vehicle in the area that the video was taken."

• Paul Opyd of Glendale Heights writes that "on my daily commute to work, there is a camera set up in Rolling Meadows at Euclid and Hicks Road, and I was able to observe that most of the tickets are for right turn, even after the drivers slowed/stopped because the way the way the intersection is marked - you have to pull forward to be able to see westbound Euclid traffic. There is almost zero pedestrian traffic in the area and I don't believe that is a safety issue - there only a money making business."

• Chris Baird of Bartlett says when he was cited in Warrenville, "I was sure I stopped properly at the white restraining line and looked to check for traffic northbound on Winfield Road and that I did not 'ride' on the shoulder of the road. I was ready to go to a hearing officer to dispute the ticket. I went on line and viewed the video; boy was I wrong and the ticket/violation was valid. Not only did I not come to a complete stop; but I did ride on the shoulder of the road. I learned my lesson and paid the $100 ticket."

• After getting a ticket in West Chicago recently, Wheaton resident Paul Ives' opinion is that "this technology is a revenue generator, counting on civil obedience for good citizens to support bloated governments."