Find another use for red light cameras

Red light cameras in this state have popped up by the hundreds since I last checked. They occupy at least every major intersection in the suburban area.

I was a victim of this malicious device several years ago. I remember it so clearly, I was at the corner of 25th and Harrison in Bellwood; the car in front of me was making a right turn on red and next thing I know a bright flash snapped at my car. Totally unmoved by the flash because I knew I had done nothing wrong I went on my marry way.

Several days later I received a violation in the mail for not a specific reason but several that I may have violated. Of course I'm ready to fight because I knew the ticket was bogus; there was no sign indicated that I could not make a turn on red. The letter indicated that I could go to a Web site and watch a video to verify what the camera actually saw. I proceeded. While viewing the video at work a few co-workers pointed out to me that the car in front of me did not pause at the red light and the camera snapped my car. I had to take off work to plead my case. I won. No apology. No nothing.

After all this I am still particularly cautious about this stop, just about observing everything now. I watch as a speeding car goes through a yellow light and the car behind it being snapped. Totally nuts, I thought to myself.

I believe these cameras are faulty and need to be put in place to capture crime or accidents, not innocent people who have no knowledge whether they may or not be guilty of a real traffic violation.

Felicia Martin

Lombard