Letter to the Editor: Red Light Cameras

This Tuesday, the Cook County Board voted to authorize the use of red light cameras at 20 different intersections in Cook County (9 of which could be located in Schaumburg and Elk Grove). Sadly, this is just another way for Cook County to fleece its taxpayers, and is exactly why I voted no. Red light cameras are all about revenue for the county and less about public safety for its citizens. A 2004 Texas Transportation Institute study showed that by simply extending the duration of yellow lights, there was an 80% reduction in red light violations. If public safety was the primary motivator for red light cameras, why wasn’t a similar study conducted in Cook County before the Board decided to start picking our pockets. Unfortunately, this is yet another example of fueling a bloated and inefficient government and shamelessly using public safety as an excuse. The Board needs to start giving the red light to “get rich quick” schemes such as these.

Timothy O. Schneider
Cook County Commissioner
District 15
Bartlett, Illinois