Carol Stream defends red-light cameras
As state legislators decide whether to essentially put a stop to red-light cameras in the suburbs, officials in at least one DuPage County community formally have opposed any effort to do so.
Carol Stream Village President Frank Saverino said Wednesday he continues to support the program, despite claims from some that the cameras are nothing more than cash cows.
"I don't know where they (state legislators) are coming from," he said. "I think they're tired of taking the phone calls (from upset motorists). So what's next? Complaining about seat-belt tickets?"
State Sen. Dan Duffy, a Lake Barrington Republican, introduced legislation last week to allow the cameras only at railroad crossings and in construction zones.
On Tuesday, Carol Stream officials renewed support for the cameras and, in doing so, released statistics to support their claim that the program has been applied fairly since its inception.
In December of 2008, the village installed its first camera at the corner of North Avenue and Kuhn Road. Last July, a second camera was installed at North and Gary avenues.
The cameras were part of a Daily Herald investigation last summer and recent public outcry has shown many people oppose them. On Sunday, a national protest was held.
But Saverino says Carol Stream's video streaming program cannot be lumped with the photo programs many municipalities use.
"We believe we made the effort to do this the right way," he said. "We're proud of what we did and are not embarrassed about the tickets we write."
According to the village, 64 percent of motorists captured by the camera at the intersection of North Avenue and Kuhn Road and 32 percent at North and Gary avenues received citations. Each of the cases is reviewed by an official adjudicator, who determines whether the incident warrants a ticket.
Motorists then have 21 days to appeal the $100 fine. About 8 percent of the violations at Kuhn Road and 13 percent at Gary Avenue were tossed out after the individual review, according to the village.
But the big number, Saverino said, is the number of citations issued for right-turn violations. Village numbers indicate no motorists were cited for illegal right turns after being caught by the camera at Kuhn Road and only 15 percent received tickets at Gary Avenue since the camera was installed in July.
Tickets for right turns have been a main sticking point for critics, who say money and not safety drives the program.
"If we were doing this for money, there wouldn't have been all of those tickets kicked out," Saverino said.