Naperville got out of an agreement with a company that was supposed to install cameras to catch red-light offenders at selected intersections. But the city isn't ready to kiss good-bye the nearly $900,000 in revenue those cameras were expected to generate in fines. Naperville expects to choose a new vendor and install cameras at busier intersections along Route 59, a move expected to generate as much revenue (in a shorter time) as the other cameras would have.
What do you make of all this? Are you confident the cameras provided by the new vendor, once chosen, will be reliable? Are you concerned about reports that some jurisdictions are abandoning red-light camera enforcement programs due to problems? What about the plan to shift focus to Route 59? If those are the intersections with the biggest concerns about safety, why wasn't the focus there all along?
The reason why the camera in Bolingbrook was abandoned was because it was faulty. It was snapping pictures of anyone that crossed the white line regardless if they stopped or not. Those who put the cameras in place always list safety as the goal, but fail to say how much revenue will be generated. Seriously, who can make a right turn without "inching" past the white line to get a clear site of view? On Rt 59...how about putting more pedestrian friendly ways to cross it? I mean...if the cameras are about reducing pedestrian accidents...why not make it safe for pedestrians in the first place?
The main issue has and will always be "revenue". The source of this will come from the people in some shape or form. Under the umbella of public safety? Even this Republican based county is wearing thin on that subject.
What does keep getting pushed to the back, the people themselves are not thrilled about this whole process. They understand tickets and respect the safety concerns that they overlooked. However, when you start throwing numbers around($900K), how many tickets is that? Then the killer, your going to do what with the money? Oh, thats right buy new cars/trucks.
Denny,
The one fallacy with your logic is that merchants don't have enough votes to elect anyone so elected officials know they have to listen to what citizens think.
People like you and me who obey the motor vehicle laws have absolutely nothing to fear from traffic camera's. Just like you and I do not steal from stores so we have absolutely nothing to fear from a private surveillance camera either.
People who do not care, people who think they are too important people who are talking on cell phones or otherwise not paying attention to their driving are putting you and me at risk every time they blow a red light or stop sign. These same people who form a "conga line" 3, 4, 5, and even 6 cars long and follow each other through an intersection AFTER the light has turned red like they are somehow entitled only block and delay other motorists like you and me.
Maybe if the city or state raised the fine for running stop signs and stop lights to $500 or $1,000 maybe it would start to get these jerks attention. Why should good law abiding citizens like you and me care if these jerks get caught and have to pay a fine? Serves them right for being unsafe, for deliberately breaking traffic laws, and for causing the rest of us delays on our own commute.
I thought these cameras were all about safety. So how come every time some politician opens his mouth it's all about $$$? I think the whole thing is a bad idea that continues to get worse. Personally I won't visit intersections that have these cameras and that includes the restaurants and stores in the area. If I do accidently venture into one of them I will refuse to turn right on red or even enter the intersection until there is no on coming traffic. Yuppies in a hurry be warned, I won't move! So join me and shut the fiasco down quickly. Your elected officials don't seem to care what citizens think, but they are sensitive to what the merchants think!
If the cameras didn't work before why should they work on Route 59? Yes, they're considering a new vendor, but why chase good money after bad? How about if NPD does a "blitz" on Route 59 for these types of offenses once or twice a week on a regular basis? Maybe those that do run the lights will be more inclined to obey the law.
I also agree with RJ, there needs to be more turn lanes to get traffic moving more effectively. Sometimes trying to cross Route 59 on Aurora Ave takes at least 3 light cycles.
Skip the whole thing and use the money you save to make intersection improvements to keep traffic moving. 99% of people getting caught by the stupid cameras are sick of waiting 5 cycles of a signal to get through an interection.
Make the much needed improvements (timing of lights, more turning lanes,etc) and I'd bet the accidents would drop just as dramatically as with the cameras... be cost neutral.
I noticed last week that the red light camera system is being completely removed in Bolingbrook at Weber and Boughton. They just had the system installed a year ago. There must be a reason why the system was implemented for only a short time, put on hold and then removed. It might be worth looking into why the system was abandoned in such a short time, before Naperville makes the same mistake.
As far as Naperville not installing them on 59 initially, I recall that the City needed permission from IDOT to install them on a state owned road,which takes time, so they decided to start with city owned intersections first, then work on getting the authorization from the state.
Use who Bolingbrook did. Theirs worked. $100 a pop makes you reconsider. Start nailing the 5 cars that still turn left on Red along 59 and 75th and Ogden, NY Street putting others in danger.