State Sen.: Nix Right-Turn-On-Red Cameras

By Prescott Carlson in News on Dec 12, 2010 5:30PM

Despite data and arguments to the contrary, state and local officials have repeatedly insisted that red light cameras are a measure to increase driver safety, not revenue. If that's the case, one Illinois Senator wants them to put their money where their mouth is, so to speak, and eliminate cameras that catch what he says are non-dangerous infractions, rolling right turns on red.

State Senator Dan Duffy of Lake Barrington tells the Daily Herald that he plans to introduce legislation in 2011 to eliminate cameras that catch drivers turning right on red lights without completely stopping, saying that those drivers do not pose a threat:

"You can drive from here to Mars and never be in an incident from turning right on red," [Duffy] said.

Duffy had tried to push a bill banning the red light cameras all together, but it was indefinitely held up in committee. As for the new legislation, a spokesman for Senate President John Cullerton told the D-H that he looks "forward to seeing the senator's presentation in committee."

That may just be a polite gesture, however, as Cullerton and Duffy are far from being BFFs. When Duffy's original bill and red light camera reforms were being reviewed by committee earlier this year, Cullerton pulled out video of right-turn-on-red infractions made by Duffy himself, an act Duffy reportedly said was a means of "trying to 'embarrass' a freshman lawmaker."