Red light revenue short

Be it bad estimates or a well-informed motoring public, drivers in Libertyville are running red lights far less than expected.

Revenue from red light cameras through the end of the budget year is projected to be $716,000 short of original estimates, a situation that has pros and cons.

The blow is softened somewhat, as expenses for the cameras are $300,000 below budget. However, while the money shortfall may dictate adjustments, it also shows drivers apparently have gotten the message since the cameras were installed last May at four intersections.

That's particularly evident at Milwaukee Avenue and Peterson Road (Route 137), which has cameras in two directions.

“It has done the job there for sure,” Deputy Police Chief Bob Koval said. “People are more aware of red light cameras in general.”

Data through Oct. 31 shows 14 drivers heading north on Milwaukee Avenue were cited. No citations have been given to motorists traveling east on Route 137.

As of Halloween, 1,030 citations had been issued at all locations: Route 45/Peterson Road (103); Milwaukee Avenue/Artaius Parkway (247); Milwaukee Avenue/Route 137 (14); and, Peterson Road/Butterfield Road (666).

The village receives $70 of each $100 citation, with the rest going to the vendor, Gatso-USA. Only nine tickets have gone to an administrative hearing, with 706 paid and 324 outstanding.

Red-light camera critics have said communities install the devices simply to raise money. Libertyville disputes that claim, citing safety as a main concern.

To emphasize its point, the village has noted in its contract that tickets not be issued for right-turn-on-red offenses, which is a big source of revenue in some other areas.

“They don't even mark those as a violation,” Koval said.

That also could be part of the reason revenues are so far down, according to Mayor Terry Weppler.

“Our revenue is up in other areas so I'm hopeful it won't cause a problem,” he said. “I always thought the numbers were way, way too high. I think the cameras themselves deter people.”

The original estimate of violations was the most wayward at Milwaukee Avenue and Route 137.

Northbound motorists have a left-turn arrow, which goes blank and leaves the full green. At other intersections, the green arrow becomes a red arrow.

“One theory is that when the company did the count, they didn't take into consideration there are legal left-hand turns,” Koval said.

Another thought is a lengthy yellow light at the intersection means more drivers get through. The nature of the intersection may have come into play as well, Koval added.

“A lot of times it backs up you couldn't run the red light if you wanted to.”

After the cameras have been in operation a year, the village will analyze the number of accidents and other information.

That will be reviewed by the Illinois Department of Transportation, which could order the cameras removed because they are on state routes, Koval said.

“The numbers are definitely less than we expected. They're effective, which is what you want,” he said.