Editor’s note: This letter was sent before RedSpeed rejected River Forest’s red-light camera contract.
Even as Schaumburg has decided to terminate its contract with RedSpeed, River Forest is hiring this “red-light camera” firm to install two cameras on Harlem Avenue.
Schaumburg ‘s experience is informative. One camera generated $1 million in fines ($100 each, the maximum allowed by state law), of which RedSpeed collected 40 percent. The vast majority of these fines were for rolling right turns, which although technically a violation, rarely result in injury or serious damage. Despite the protestations of the politicians, it is blatantly obvious that the sole purpose of these cameras is to generate revenue. That is why they pick a harmless, trivial traffic violation and then fine to the maximum allowed. The environmental view is that full stops waste substantial amounts of gas, and rolling stops when there is no other traffic in the intersection should be mandatory.
So why is River Forest jumping into the trend toward Big Brother surveillance? The answer is obvious when you consider the location of the cameras. Harlem Avenue only borders River Forest, and the vast majority of drivers on Harlem are not from River Forest. So as is its wont, River Forest hopes to rake in cash from the citizens of neighboring villages, at minimal cost to its own citizens. River Foresters do not like paying taxes and prefer to benefit from services paid for by surrounding communities.
We love Whole Foods, but if we start receiving anonymous $100 traffic tickets, we will have to boycott all River Forest businesses. We can get to Trader Joe’s without having to use the RedSpeed side of Harlem Avenue.
Tom DeCoursey
Oak Park
Anything that compels drivers to come to a full and complete stop at a stop light or stop sign is more than fair. It is safe. Rights on red have gotten out of control. It just gets worse. And at stop signs, they hardly tap the brake.
Put cameras on every light and every sign, rack up the fines and revenues until scofflaws can do what they’re supposed to do in the first place – police themselves.
Martin Bernstein
Oak Park
Submitted to WednesdayJournalOnline.com