Senator Dan Duffy
The solution's real easy, Dan, but municipalities wouldn't like it, one bit. In fact, they would howl with outrage if you really solved the problem my way.
Here's all we need to do:
In the print edition, only, of last week's Buffalo Grove Countryside, a Pioneer Press weekly newspaper, Senator Duffy wrote, in part:
"Red Light Cameras put revenue above safety."
"They are being used as ATMs by some towns, making camera companies rich, and are actually increasing accidents in some intersections."
He concluded by saying, "I am completely opposed to red light cameras and believe we should do everything we can to repeal existing laws that allow these cameras to operate in Illinois. We need creative solutions to our traffic and revenue problems that do not infringe on our liberty."
The solution is very simple, and you can personally make it happen, Dan.
The solution is for you to sponsor and get passed a state law that would cap Red Light Camera fines, penalties and fees at ten dollars. That way, it would cost municipalities more money to operate the system than it would bring in.
The benefit to doing that is that, if it's really a matter of safety, then the municipality could go to the trouble and expense of notifying the vehicle owner that the driver had engaged in a dangerous practice. The municipality would then be reimbursed for part of the cost of the notification, by receiving a ten dollar payment.
On the other hand, if it's just more government by scam, to raise revenue from something that isn't a problem, such as somebody slowing to three miles-per-hour, walking speed, before making a right turn on red, then the municipality wouldn't waste its time, nor the vehicle owner's time, by hammering the vehicle owner to cough up big bucks for nothing.
Do you realize how much fuel we save in this country by NOT making a full, rock-back stop, every time we're going to make a right turn on red and, instead, slowing down to a very safe speed before proceeding?
I'm going to contact the office of Senator Duffy, tomorrow, to see what his response is to this proposal. Stay tuned.