Official: Cook Co. can install red-light cameras in suburbs
Cook County is perfectly within its rights to mount red-light cameras on county highways within municipal boundaries and cite violators, according to a legal opinion issued this week by the County state's attorney's office.
The opinion, written by Deputy State's Attorney Patrick T. Driscoll, bolsters the county's case for installing 20 red-light cameras at suburban intersections.
County commissioners approved the cameras June 1 and identified 30 potential sites, most in the Northwest suburbs. The cameras would operate for at least a year then be re-evaluated, county officials say.
Officials in Schaumburg, one of the towns where cameras are proposed, were disappointed with the state's attorney finding.
"I believe the constitution of Illinois allows municipalities to pass home rule ordinances in conflict with the home rule county," Schaumburg Village Attorney Jack Siegel said. "And the village of Schaumburg passed an ordinance prohibiting red-light cameras within its corporate limits without consent of the (village) board."
Arlington Heights also wants to ban the cameras and officials in Buffalo Grove, Palatine and Elk Grove Village are researching options to fight the county's plan.
The state's attorney opinion is not changing Cook County Board commissioner Timothy Schneider's plans to introduce an amendment to the red-light camera ordinance at Tuesday's county board meeting. The amendment would let municipalities choose whether they want the red-light cameras.
"By resolution of their boards, they can choose to opt out," said Schneider, a red-light camera opponent.
Commissioners Larry Suffredin and Gregg Goslin are co-sponsoring the amendment. Suffredin has said he will introduce another amendment postponing installation until a new county board president is seated in November.
Cook County officials estimate they will earn $2 million next year from the cameras, though none of that money is slated to go to the municipalities.
"I see all municipalities opting out unless the county should agree to share the revenue with them and agree to strict guidelines regarding violations," Schneider said.
Schaumburg Village Manager Ken Fritz said even if the county agreed to revenue-sharing, it wouldn't make any difference to the village.
"This is an issue of local control," Fritz said. "It's an issue of home rule. The village board needs to be able to have the authority to make decisions for (residents). There's no reason for the county to be involved in regulating or enforcing traffic within the village."
Schaumburg got rid of its controversial red-light camera at Meacham and Woodfield roads in 2009, declaring it a failed experiment.
Fritz is supportive of the opt-out clause idea.
"We still disagree with the outcome and we're still asking the county to reconsider," Fritz said. "Regardless of whether it's legal or not, it's still an invasion of the rights of the village to decide what goes on within its boundaries."
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<ul class="links">
<li><a href="/story/?id=386734">Schaumburg fighting Cook County over traffic cameras <span class="date">[06/09/10]</span></a></li>
<li><a href="/story/?id=385835"> Cook County defends suburban red-light cameras <span class="date">[06/05/10]</span></a></li>
<li><a href="/story/?id=385567">Suburbs poised to fight Cook County on red light cameras <span class="date">[06/04/10]</span></a></li>
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