Elk Grove Village officials: Cameras catch 200 red-light scoffl...

After setting up cameras to catch red-light scofflaws at two busy intersections, Elk Grove Village officials say they have nailed about 200 traffic offenders a day.

[reality]

So Redspeed is making $7000 a day just from Elk Grove Village? They could hire 3 cops to sit there 24/7 for less than that.

[reality]

oh yea 2 lights so they'd need six cops. I'm sure you could hire them for $1000 a shift.

[Diogenes]

"Scofflaws." What happened to neutral reporting?

If it was a news article, not an editorial, why didn't the reporter write about:
1. The length of the yellow.
2. How late (after the light turned red) the average (alleged) violation was.
3. Were they ticketing just for straight thru violations, or did the count include rolling rights, and lefts.

But if it was an editorial, then I think the Trib might want to comment on the propriety of a contract that pays a private company on a per ticket basis, thus leaving them with an incentive to manipulate things to increase the number of tickets - as happened no notoriously in San Diego.

D

[Chris R]

It is ridiculous the way so many people run through lights; we all see it everywhere, all the time. While Diogenes may be onto something about the incentive aspect of the contract, everyone else is missing the point.

Do the math on 200 tickets a day - that comes out to one every 7 minutes, and probably 1 every 3 minutes during the day. THAT is the problem. Instead of everybody wanting to make excuses and looking for loopholes, maybe prevention is the best cure. If motorists would simply stop running lights, the problem would go away.

I hope they stiffen the fines and make them progressive, get caught 3 times and lose your license. I also wish they would install cameras at all intersections where needed. They do work and for those who get caught, shut up and pay.

[A Real American]

Chris R:
You're obviously a communist. When you vote for Barack Obama, remember that moment; for you will have contributed to the beginning of the end for the greatest country in the history of the world.
Besides that, however, why don't you do some math? Red light cameras are sold to the masses (or sometimes voted into law in the middle of the night) by a Chicago machine politics administration that is obsessed with fleecing the public to pay for for reck-loose spending in a zero accountability government. The cameras are just another tax, yes I said TAX, just like everything else you overy-pay for here. As an example, in Arizona, red light cameras and speed cameras are everywhere, netting the state nearly $250 million dollars annually. Please do not try to tell us it is about safety, as the before and after results (the real results, not the results of corrupt public "officials") would suggest that it is more about the money.
Am I bitter? Of course. I was ticketed for speeding in Arizona just last year. And when I tried to fight the ticket I was railroaded by the state attourney. Even though the constitution guarantees the right to face your accuser (a machine), I was convicted without that right. It is a corrupt system ran by a private company with the sole incentive of handing out more tickets to reap greater profitability.
What's wrong with you, Chris? Normally you liberals are irritated when anybody is making money? Aren't you upset with a private company making money on the back of middle class Americans? Or, maybe you're not mad because you want to find a way to spend that money on some "program". Wake up, Chris.
We now see Illinois predictably following in the footsteps of the Arizona's liberal, socialist traffic system. Yet another regressive TAX on hard working Americans.
Should we stop at red lights? Absolutely. Should we drive the speed limit? Sure. It is better for everyone. Should we let a socialist government video tape and dictate our every move? No. Is this the start down that slippery slope? You decide...

[Trucker]

Lazy police work.

[Smith]

TO: A Real American

the end of your comment was a good agruement, but you ruined anything you had to say by the ignorance of everything you said at the start. just my 2 cents.

by the way, you are a communist is probably the worst opening line to use for anything, inless your in russia.

[dave64]

do you care about this .you have more important things to think about.our country is being overrun
by the radicals that dont think.you dumb mfer go republican.god speed to everyone that reads this.

[Jeff Snyder]

Please be aware that the overwehlming majority of the red light violations are for not stopping completely while making a turn on a red light. The camera thing is just a cash generator for the village. It is just a way for the wasteful spending of Elk Grove Village to continue to with an endless supply of funds.

[NAK]

It's not fair. It's not illegal if you don't get caught! It's cheating by the pigs.

[Ryan B]

Its seriously ridiculous to see how many people think its okay to run red lights. Chris R. said it best...when you get caught just shut up and pay. If you can't do the time, then don't do the crime. I wish these things were at almost all intersections. Why? Because I'm an honest citizen that STOPS at red lights. Thanks.

[Christina Marino]

I got a ticket for turning right on right 17 seconds after the light turned right because I did not stop completely at 2 o clock in the morning. There were no cars, all I did was not stop COMPLETELY. I hope one day you, Chris R, gets a ticket. Then you will complain just like everyone else. Unless you driving record, is perfect of course. Anyways, I do not want to give my money to the government any more than I already do. If you'd like to, go right ahead.

[christina marino]

and by the way, ryan b, im going to be laughing my ASS off when you get a ticket. Until then, good luck being a good citizen :)

[Biesterfield RampRight]

It is just cheating under devine law. People who framed the follow through right turn for I 290 when there is no cross traffic at all and there is a "right turn only lane" to turn right from.
People who decided to have camera there and making money should be punished. This is outrageous.

[Picket Elk Grove]

I was also ticket for the famous failure to come to complete stop on right turn. I've decided to never spend another dime in the city of Elk Grove Village as long as I live. Zero!

[True American]

Smith wrote:

TO: A Real American
the end of your comment was a good agruement, but you ruined anything you had to say by the ignorance of everything you said at the start. just my 2 cents.
by the way, you are a communist is probably the worst opening line to use for anything, inless your in russia.

inless your in Russia? how about unless.... argument spelled wrong too...go back to school...plus Russia is not communist anymore.
The man has valid points...its fools like you that will look around when big brother has got you by the short hair and ask...what happen?
If you dont think it can happen here....you are wrong. This country is one of the youngest governments in the world and could change at any time when fools like you don't defend your Constitution that lots of men and women have died for. So bite your foolish tongue moron.....and buy a dictionary.

[True American]

Folks...trust me...just don't pay the ticket. Its a private company and they cant even think about ahving the village do anything to your license until you have 5 of them that are unpaid and in final judgment.

As of now...the Secretary of State has NOT suspended any license for people with even more than 5 violations. Trust me I know...I am a Law Enforcement officer that totally disagrees with this bull crap. The private companies don't share any info on these tickets as well. So as long as your not dumb enough to get 5 in Elk Grove Village....don't sweat it. Stick up for your rights. If you can stand the bull you might get from a collection agency...its a small price to pay for your civil liberties.

Senator Dan Duffy has even proposed to legislation to stop the right turn red light scams. http://www.dailyherald.com/story/print/...

Also here is the law in plain print...read for yourself about the 5 ticket rule..hope this helps

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext...

[True American]

lets not forget...nobody is really complaining about people who blow through a true red light straight on....even I support that....what we are really talking about is the people who turn right on red and may slow to a roll , then turn, The statistics are clear.....there is no hazard with right turns on red lights...yet this is the most used bull crap trap for this village. This is why State Senator Dan Duffy is fighting to stop this bull....

Also Elk Grove Village has on at the on ramp to I-355 that has no cross traffic for Gods sake!!...There is no problems at this intersection at all....

[yucko]

boycot elk grove ,..it is they only way to fight back ,.....do not shop there ,...stay away ,..screw them ,...send letters to the stores you liked ,..and tell them you will never go back ,..... it worked in schaumberg ,..they were forced to take the cameras out ....boycot ---screw johnson and the greedy township

[infosts10]

This is all about scam of innocent people and how to make a quick money for the police departments across the country. They don't do their job going after criminals except hard working people $100 each time. This is insane and its not helping or to prevent the accidents. Its all about scam, scam and scam. Each time I saw the trafice lights, I got nervous becaue I don't want to cathing in the middle of the green lights and then become red lights in a second. This is so bad idea.