Use discretion with red-light cameras

In the latest edition of Gurnee’s “Keeping Posted,” the mayor presents a 10-point defense of the controversial red-light camera program. I believe some important facts were missed that I’d like to share.

The message states that the entire program is designed to change driver behavior and improve public safety, a noble endeavor indeed. Everyone agrees that we should have zero tolerance to a driver who recklessly barrels through a red light at a busy intersection.

That being said, a close look at the red-light cameras program reveals that the large majority of citations issued are not for this type of dangerous behavior. To the contrary, studies show 90 percent to 95 percent of red-light camera citations are issued for right-turn on red violations and we have no reason to believe the Gurnee program is any different.

It is here we must make the critical distinction between the danger posed by recklessly running through a red lighted intersection, and the common practice of a little roll during a right turn on red. The US Department of Transportation reports the average driver could drive a billion miles before being involved in an accident caused by this type of violation.

Since the program’s inception, roughly 24,000 citations have been issued for right-turn on red infractions. Such a strict enforcement of law appears severely disproportionate to the public safety risk posed by this widely accepted and normalized driving behavior.

I am certainly not advocating the village turn a blind eye to traffic law violations. Rather, I want us to once again empower our hardworking police force to use their best asset when enforcing traffic law in a fair and reasonable manner — their discretion. It is this discretion used on the scene that enables the police to do the great job that they do every day.

Matt Koch

Gurnee