Crime: April 2008 Archives

Those red-light cameras in Waukegan and soon to be in Gurnee and other county locales may enlighten, so to speak, motorists if a central Florida study is any indication.

The town of Apopka, near Orlando, installed red-light cameras in July 2007 at two highly traveled intersections, according to the report The Hound saw. That first month recorded 289 infractions. In August 2007, there were 262 ticket issued.

Fast forward to January 2008 and the number of tickets dropped to 26. As of March, 21 tickets --- at two intersections --- were given out.

So much for a revenue maker. That is if those figures translate up North. Remember, most drivers in the South think they can compete on the NASCAR circuit. They respect that caution flag.

Nearly two years into Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran's tenure as sheriff, we learn some mopes have smuggled weapons into the courts complex in downtown Waukegan. Well, thanks for that telegram. Considering this month is the anniversary of the Pony Express, it took less time for a letter telling us that than what the sheriff fessed up last week.

The Hound has prowled the courthouse during this apparent lack of security effort on behalf of the rent-a-cops the county has employed. That means The Hound's life has been in danger, along with hundreds of county employees, County Board members, elected officials and judges, not to mention attorneys.

What an outrage! That outrage would be The Hound's life being in danger. Who cares about the rest? Especially the attorneys.

Um, who exactly was the one who decided to hire Andy Frain ushers to supervise the possibility of terrorists, domestic or foreign, from circumventing security at the Lake County Building? The Hound would like to hear some answers from the County Board chairwoman or at least the County Board administrator.

Those Andy Frains can't even control a rowdy crowd in the upper deck at Wrigley Field. Not that The Hound was one of those who were asked to leave on opening day.

Replacing the Frains with deputies means more money for the county. Has anyone, besides the sheriff's deputies, noticed the deputies haven't had a raise for a while? Looks like the sheriff is going to bat for his people.