Red Light Cameras Hot Issue In 2011 Election
Chicago is the red light camera capital of the U.S.
But it’s citizens may not be happy with this designation based on the number of political candidates officially opposed to the city’s RLC program.
Local pro-liberty group, Cook County Campaign for Liberty reports 85% of respondents to the group’s recent survey are opposed to the $100 tickets given out at the select 190 traffic intersections citywide.
Campaign for Liberty sent out 240 surveys to candidates running in Tuesday’s election and got responses from 28 people, a 12% response rate.
Red light cameras was just one of an array of subjects Campaign for Liberty asked candidates to respond to in order to determine a candidates “Liberty Score”.
In most cases, respondents to the survey were either aldermanic candidates running for an open seat or challengers to incumbents.
“Up here in the 45th, red light cameras is an issue voters complain to me about all the time,” said Micheal Fitzgerald Ward running for alderman in the 45th. “I’m opposed to them.”
50th ward alderman Bernie Stone was the only incumbent to respond to the group’s survey and says he is against Chicago’s RLC program. On his survey Stone wrote “I voted against them originally.”
Campaign for Liberty’s Scott Davis was impressed with the anti-RLC responses.
“I was surprised 85% of respondents are in favor of eliminating RLC completely,” Davis said. “I think a lot of candidates know this is a populous issue because it hits poor people the hardest. This issue is a winner if they can run on this and expose it.”
While the vast majority of candidates who took a stance on the issue were opposed to red light camera tickets, at least one candidate supports the cameras. David Pavlik, running for 32nd ward alderman against incumbent alderman Scott Waguespack, is proposing to divert a portion of RLC revenue collected at cameras locations within his ward back to the ward.
But it’s not just candidates running for alderman who are using the issue of red light cameras as part of their campaign platform. As reported here earlier this week, Chicago mayoral candidate Miguel del Valle had a press conference to announce his issues with the city’s RLC program.
In addition, 42nd ward alderman Brendan Reilly embraces red light cameras, even going as far as to request the installation of cameras at two intersections in his ward.
Of course, in suburban Schaumburg, anti-red light camera activist Brian Costin has made RLC a component of his campaign.
Download Cook County Campaign for Liberty’s full list of candidates publicly opposed to red light cameras.
And if you have an android phone, you might download this app:
chicago red light camera alert—
it uses gps and the city’s database to warn you when driving near one.
Please don’t put things that make machine hack David Pavlik look good. Aren’t you in the 32nd? Pavlik is a machine hack, stick with Waguespack
Greg,
I’m confused. Didn’t we just report Pavlik supports red light cameras?
In addition, 42nd ward alderman Brendan Reilly embraces red light cameras, even going as far as to request the installation of cameras at two intersections in his ward.
Really- I was going to vote for him, but now I won’t. Do you know which intersections these are?
almost sounds like a “well, if we have to have them, then at least lets get some money from them put into the ward”. I dunno, I guess it’s not that positive
I’m just fed up with that guy. He brought a plow to my street, screwed up the shoveling I’d already done, then left a flier in my mailbox that had the wrong polling location. it was downright hilarious.
Greg,
I get your point. But we’re just reporting what his website says. It’s up to you and other readers to judge whether or not it’s good policy or not.
Although, I’m always working to do better, we try (operative word) to report the facts accurately and let readers come to their own conclusions.
Brian,
I’ve been trying to find time to report this story about RLC in the 42nd.
CDOT has confirmed with me there are two. One I believe is at Columbus & Wacker. I’m unsure of the other.
Hoping to talk to Ald. Reilly about this for a full story soon.
FYI – the column labeled 1 is the Red Light Camera question. A Plus means the candidate would eliminate Chicago’s Red Light Camera program, a Minus means they would keep them.
Brian – unfortunately, Reilly is running unopposed, which is odd since he’s a first termer, after successfully knocking off longtime alderman Burt Natarus
Red light cameras are a cynical means to make money with improper and/or unethical traffic management policies. Increasing the length of the yellow intervals will reduce violations by MORE than a camera program. The statement by the city that drivers adapt to the longer yellow and it does not work are false, a deliberate lie. See our website for unbiased studies on this and other issues about the scam that is red light cameras.
Regards, James C. Walker, Board Member – National Motorists Association Foundation, http://www.motorists.org, Ann Arbor, MI