Hoffman Estates nears OK of red-light cameras
Despite controversy over red-light cameras, Hoffman Estates plans to install them at five village intersections.
Police Chief Clinton Herdegen stressed safety Monday when he discussed a proposed contract with American Traffic Solutions Inc. with a village board committee.
Cameras would be installed at Higgins and Barrington roads, Higgins and Roselle roads, Golf and Barrington roads, Golf and Bartlett roads and Golf and Sutton roads.
Herdegen said red-light camera tickets would be issued just as if a police officer had written the citation. A driver wouldn't receive a violation if a car's front bumper barely towed the stop line.
"We will be very careful on how we set up," Herdegen said.
Once the cameras are installed, a police employee would review violations before they are mailed. The $100 fines can be paid online. After 90 days left unpaid, the fines increase to $200.
The village board could vote on the issue as soon as next month; installation would then depend on approval by the Illinois Department of Transportation. That could take 100 days after the village board's vote.
The pact would include an escape clause if Springfield lawmakers ban the controversial cameras, ensuring the village isn't liable for the contract.
State Sen. John Millner, a Carol Stream Republican, is sponsoring a bill that would reform the use of the red-light cameras. Herdegen said the village's camera system would match standards set forth by that bill.
Trustee Cary Collins said he wants the village to wait and see what Springfield would do with the cameras, citing the Daily Herald's recent red-light camera investigative series.
"There's something wrong with this process, otherwise there wouldn't be so many complaints with people," he said.
"The ultimate goal is to show the public we are creating a solution that enhances the safety of the village's streets," said Peter Sopkovich, business development manager for ATS, whose clients include Cook County, New York City and Philadelphia.
But the village also is anticipating the income from the cameras.
Officials estimate each intersection approach - one direction of traffic - could yield $365,000 per year; the village's take would be $312,320 per approach. That's assuming 100 percent of violations are paid.
The village had planned to shift 20 percent of money from violations caught by the cameras to the police department, with the remaining 80 percent going to the capital improvements fund. But given the state of the economy, the remaining 80 percent now could go to day-to-day village operations, Village Manager James Norris said.
The village has no current plans to use red-light cameras to enforce right-turn violations, Herdegen said, but ATS is looking at two locations for possible right-hand-turn monitoring in the future.
The first is at northbound Roselle Road turning east on Higgins Road. Herdegen said the intersection was among IDOT's most dangerous corners a couple of years ago. The other is on westbound Higgins Road turning north on Barrington Road from the inside lane.
Hoffman Estates officials have debated the matter since 2008 when they agreed to a deal with LaserCraft Inc. to install cameras at six intersections. Georgia-based LaserCraft has since left the Illinois market, and Hoffman Estates started the search for a new vendor.
The village also will leave the duration of yellow lights as they are. Depending on the intersection, a yellow light will last four to six seconds, said Michael Hankey, the village's director of transportation.