More Suburban Red Light Camera Drama

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Sep 15, 2010 8:20PM

It's becoming as constant as death, taxes, and another Cubs-less World Series: the ongoing red light camera drama across the suburbs. Here are two more recent developments.

The suburb of Oak Lawn has voted to extend their current red light camera contract with Redflex Traffic Systems for five more years. The unanimous 6-0 vote by the village board came despite this weekend's protest though at least one board member acknowledged a number of calls from constituents opposing the extension of the contract. Good to see he heeded their desires.

Meanwhile, one suburb has heeded complaints. Well, sort of. Elk Grove Village will conduct what they're calling a "test" and cover (i.e., not use) red light cameras currently installed at the intersection of of Busse Highway and Devon Avenue for 12 months. The village currently operates cameras at eight intersections. Mayor Craig Johnson, who claimed the cameras are strictly for safety reasons and not for revenue, told CBS 2, "We're going to put it to the test. Did we truly change drivers' habits, or did they only respond when they see a camera? Do the accidents go back up, or do they stay down where they should be? If they stay down where they should be, the camera will be removed permanently from that location. If they go back up, it could be activated again."