Red-light cameras OK'd in Aurora

Aurora has officially become the next suburb to adopt red-light cameras at some city traffic signals.

The city council approved a three-year contract with Arizona-based REDFLEX Traffic Systems in February that would allow up to 20 intersections to be filmed.

Tuesday, aldermen voted 9-1 to install five cameras at three intersections as part of a test program.

Within a moth cameras will be installed at New York Street and Farnsworth Avenue; New York Street and Commons Drive, which both had 30 crashes in 2008; and Farnsworth Avenue and Molitor Road, which had 48 crashes in 2008.

"The purpose of the Aurora police department is public safety and one of those items includes safety for our driving public," said Police Chief Greg Thomas. "Our goal so far has been met. We are currently at 16.8 percent reduction or 536 fewer accidents through July 31 than we did last year at this time. We think the use of these cameras may help reduce our accidents and injuries even further."

If officers determine their filmed actions warrant it, first-time offenders will be hit with a $100 fine. But a 30-day warning period will begin once the cameras are installed and activated.

Drivers will not, however, be ticketed for turning right on red unless officers reviewing the film determine a safety infraction.

"I'm not a big fan of issuing tickets for a right turn on red because I think there's a time and a place," Thomas said. "There's obviously the letter of the law and the spirit of the law and when an officer's writing a ticket he's able to use discretionary powers but the camera does not do that."

Thomas said he also supports installing signs at city entrances proclaiming Aurora a "red-light camera community."

Fourth Ward Alderman Rick Lawrence was the only alderman to oppose installing the cameras.

"It's obvious that it doesn't work just based on REDFLEX's own business plan because our contract is based on the number of tickets and we figured it to be 33,000 tickets we need to send to even break even," Lawrence said. "If it actually reduced people running red lights, REDFLEX would go out of business. We fine people for everything around here and here we go again."