Red-light cameras catching on in Kane County

Kane County officials are poised to approve a measure that would allow municipalities to install red-light cameras at intersections along county roads.

But the county won't receive a cut of any of the revenue from tickets paid by scofflaw drivers, the county board's transportation committee learned Monday.

State statute doesn't permit such a revenue sharing agreement, according to Katherine Moran, chief of the Kane County state's attorney's office's civil division.

It was nearly a year ago when Lombard-based RedSpeed Illinois pitched its services to the transportation committee. Since then, officials from several municipalities have expressed interest in partnering with the county on a red-light camera system.

Aurora and Geneva are the most recent Kane County communities to approve red-light cameras. Geneva officials are eyeing four intersections for the cameras: Kirk Road at Fabyan Parkway, Randall Road at Kaneville/Keslinger Road, Randall at Williamsburg Avenue and Randall at Fargo Boulevard.

Although officials have yet to identify any other intersections as possible candidates, they have established eligibility criteria. Eligible intersections must have a documented history of crashes and traffic violations attributable to red-light runners.

Members of the county's transportation division will review, on a quarterly basis, data of violations at red-light camera intersections to monitor what effect -- if any -- the cameras have on red-light violations.

"I think we have to try this to make our intersections safe," said committee member Mike Kenyon, a South Elgin Republican. "It's a good tool. It should help law enforcement."

Red-light cameras have become a hot topic since Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a law in 2006 allowing them to be installed in suburban Chicago and St. Louis.