No new cameras until system fixed

Despite expert and legislative opinion that red-light cameras need to be used more judiciously, several suburbs are moving forward with plans to install more cameras.

We think that's a mistake. We also think it highlights the best way for the system to be reformed. Municipalities that enjoy increased revenues from these cameras aren't likely to put in standards on their own. The Legislature must do it.

There are exceptions. Schaumburg turned off and removed its cameras. Des Plaines Mayor Marty Moylan said last week he will ask the city council to review the use of the cameras in town.

"I think we have to revisit the whole idea of the camera program as it exists," Moylan said. "I don't know whether we'd want to make adjustments or think about scuttling the whole program."

Unfortunately, not everyone sees a problem, even though our multipart series Seeing Red found most of the revenue gained from the cameras is from right-on-red violations, which experts say is not a significant safety issue. Also, some of the cameras are not placed at intersections with a history of crashes related to vehicles running red lights.

"The problem here is people have gotten too lax. They've gotten too comfortable with breaking the law. The red-light cameras do nothing to you if you follow the law," said Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson, defending that town's seven cameras.

In its first year with cameras Elk Grove Village collected $928,740 in revenue. That compares to $600,000 in revenue from other traffic tickets. Johnson says cameras will remain in place and possibly increase, citing a reduction in accidents.

Buffalo Grove, despite some concerns raised by trustees, agreed this week to begin formal talks with a red-light camera company. And Naperville, also this week, agreed to install two more cameras, with city officials saying safety has improved with the one already installed.

Still, they refused to lower the $100 fine to $50. To their credit, city officials said they won't issue tickets for right turn on red if the driver comes to a complete stop, even if the car goes over the white line - a common ticket from these cameras.

We outlined our thoughts on how to better utilize red-light cameras in an editorial last week. Having set standards and better ways to monitor them are among the ideas. Clearly, the Legislature will need to deal with these issues. We are heartened to hear from many of our suburban legislators that they plan to seek these changes.

"We need to put some standards in place," state Rep. Darlene Senger, a Naperville Republican, told us. "These things don't work right yet so we need to put something in place that makes sense."

And we need our suburban officials to slow down on any more cameras until those standards are in place.