Red light cameras at DuPage intersections a slim possibility

Municipalities wanting to put red-light cameras at county-controlled intersections could get the chance to make their case.

But they’ll need to make a persuasive argument.

County board members say they’re not thrilled with the practice of using cameras to ticket motorists caught disobeying traffic signals at high-volume intersections. Nevertheless, the board’s transportation committee in two weeks is planning to start discussions on the possibility of creating a red-light camera policy for the county.

At Tuesday’s transportation meeting, one option suggested by DuPage staff is for the county board to allow camera enforcement only at intersections where at least five “correctable” crashes occur a year. About 30 percent of the more 300 intersections the county controls meet that standard, officials said.

If a policy eventually is adopted, each proposed camera location would need to be reviewed and approved by the county. Towns could be required to pay a $1,100 permit fee for each intersection where a camera is sought.

“I would say ‘no’ against all red-light cameras,” said board member Don Puchalski, who is chairman of the transportation committee. “But I would at least give villages the opportunity to present a case for it.”

Communities that have installed cameras insist the main goal is to increase traffic safety by reducing accidents resulting from red light-running violations. They argue that statistics show motorists running red lights is the leading cause of urban auto accidents.

Still, Puchalski and other county board members said they are worried that some municipalities are using the cameras as revenue generators. He stressed the county “wouldn’t rubber stamp” any requests for new cameras if a policy was in place.

Board member Jim Healy says he’s “not all that crazy about” red-light cameras. But if the DuPage decides to allow some cameras — and municipalities demonstrate the need for them — he is suggesting the county collect 40 percent of the fine revenue for the sole purpose of funding improvements that make intersections safer. He doesn’t want any of that money going to the county’s general fund.

“For people who think it’s a revenue generator (for the county), no it’s not,” Healy said. “It’s there to make corrections to roads that have these cameras so maybe we can remove them in the future.”