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Editorial: Time for a checkup on red-light camera use

Red-light cameras were in the news again last week when the state Supreme Court let stand the Illinois law that allows their existence. A lawsuit had claimed the cameras in Chicago were unconstitutional, but the court, lacking two justices who recused themselves, could not round up enough votes for an opinion.

If this court action is any indication, the cameras, which are now ingrained in the suburban driving landscape, will be around a while longer in Illinois - even while their use is declining elsewhere. In fact, we're seeing an expansion with last year's law allowing cameras on school bus stop arms.

While the outcry over cameras in the suburbs has diminished since our investigative series five years ago, probes into Chicago's program continue to reveal unfair ticketing practices and corruption. The city's problems should put suburban municipalities on red alert.

We've long held that red-light cameras should be used with the fundamental goal of increasing safety, not revenue. Our investigation, called "Seeing Red," determined that some suburbs were collecting thousands of $100 tickets from drivers who rolled through a red light on a right turn or failed to stop in front of the white line - offenses certainly not as egregious as speeding through a red light. Since then some towns have retreated, either cutting back on the number of citations issued or pulling the plug at certain locations entirely. Others towns have kept their cameras, including Elk Grove Village and West Dundee, whose leaders point to encouraging data that their programs have indeed reduced accidents.

One place suburban drivers are likely to see more cameras, however, is on school buses. It's not uncommon for drivers to blow through the extended stop arms, putting schoolchildren at risk. Prospect Heights Elementary District 23 and Palatine Township Elementary District 15 are among the first districts to sign on. This would seem an important use of the cameras, but, again, the data must justify the need. District 15 will install the cameras next month, working with police in Rolling Meadows, where bus drivers have frequently complained that drivers repeatedly ignore the law. Violators will be charged $150.

Whether the problems seen in Chicago or others will appear in the suburbs remains to be seen, but in the meantime, any town or school district looking to expand or continue use must ensure the program is in residents' best interest through tracking accident statistics and staying up to date on the latest research, ensuring proper warning signs are in place, inspecting yellow light calibration, educating the public, remaining transparent and other measures. Perhaps it's time for a checkup.

Read just about any red-light camera story from our archives and there will be a public official quoted as saying it's not about the revenue. We'd hope that is so. Only when it's clear that the technology is indeed used to protect citizens rather than empty their wallets will any future outcries be avoided.

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