Red-light cameras to be turned on again in Lake Zurich

Lake Zurich soon will restart its red-light cameras on Route 12, about two months after they were shut down.

Police Cmdr. Kevin Finlon said Illinois Department of Transportation regulations required the devices to be disconnected because of work that's been occurring periodically on traffic signals on Route 12, also known as Rand Road.

Finlon said an outside company has been working on an LED conversion for Route 12 traffic signals. The red-light cameras had to be turned off about two months ago because the village no longer was in complete control of the traffic signals.

Warning signs and pole-mounted cameras remained where Route 12 crosses Miller Road, Route 22 and June Terrace. It's not known how many drivers realized the cameras had been turned off.

"We didn't tell anyone they were off," Finlon said. "Accidents were still down even while they were off."

Finlon said he expects the red-light cameras to restart at the three intersections within a week.

Lake Zurich officials projected about $600,000 in yearly revenue from the controversial devices. Finlon said alleged violators not receiving $100 fines over two months is not an issue because the cameras were installed for safety reasons.

"The revenue is a secondary thing from the cameras as far as we're concerned," he said.

Red-light camera opponents say the devices are simply about towns wanting to make money. They also contend the photo-enforced intersections lead to more rear-end crashes by drivers suddenly braking at a yellow light.

More red-light cameras are on the way for Route 12 south of Lake Zurich. Two cameras will be installed on each side of Deer Park Town Center.

After the Deer Park devices are installed, there will be seven red-light cameras on a 5.5-mile stretch of Route 12. The first camera in the cluster begins at Dundee Road in Palatine and ends at Route 22 in Lake Zurich.