Red light camera ban now rests in Senate subcommittee
From Illinois Business Journal news services
SPRINGFIELD – A proposed ban on red light cameras in Illinois, a measure that has passed the House, has been referred to a special subcommittee of the Senate.
The legislation co-sponsored by Illinois state Rep. Dwight Kay, R-Glen Carbon, would ban the use of red light cameras from being utilized to enforce traffic violations.
“Red light cameras have been abused by the City of Chicago,” Kay said recently. “The issue with red light cameras seems to be about revenue and not public safety. Quite often motorists receive traffic tickets imposed by a red light camera without even breaking any traffic laws. To make matters worse, if you are innocent, it can be quite a hassle to receive due process by proving your innocence. Traffic violations should be left to our law enforcement – not cameras.”
House Bill 173 would ban red light cameras from being utilized as a tool to send traffic violations to motorists in nine Illinois counties. If signed into law, the bill provides that after Jan. 1, 2017, non-home rule units within the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair, and Will are prohibited from enacting or enforcing existing automated red light camera systems. The bill exempts home-rule communities throughout Illinois.
HB 173 passed with 79 voting in favor, 26 voting against, and 4 voting present, the bill now awaits approval in the Illinois Senate. As of late last week, it was pending before a subcommittee on special issues and no hearing had been set.
