In January of 2006, the city of Chicago began using red light camera systems to catch drivers violating traffic laws at various intersections. While the goal of these cameras is to make the roads safer, there is also a financial benefit to the cities that use these systems. Over the last two years, the city of Chicago raised over $100 million in revenue from fines assessed through the use of these cameras.
Chicago is not alone. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there are 475 communities currently using red light cameras in 26 states.
Recently, Governor Quinn signed a bill into law that will amend sections of the vehicle code relating to red light camera systems. These changes will take effect on January 1, 2011.
Major Changes to Red Light Camera Laws
Currently, a technician has to review the footage to determine whether a violation, in fact, occurred. The change in the law now requires a current or retired law enforcement officer to perform an additional review of the violation. Also, the administrative hearing fee will be waived if the citation is appealed. Previously, an additional fee was added to the fine if a hearing was requested. Critics say this added fee discouraged many people from appealing the citations.
Perhaps the most important amendment requires municipalities to conduct safety impact studies. This provision requires municipalities to conduct a before-and-after statistical analysis of the impact cameras have on the intersection. If the accident rate increases after 36 months, the municipality must perform additional studies to determine the underlying causes of the accidents. At that point, the city may take additional measures to prevent future accidents.
How Effective are the Cameras?
Rajiv Shah, an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago examined data obtained by the Chicago Tribune concerning the effectiveness of red light cameras. Shah examined the so-called "halo effect," a theory that states drivers who know there are cameras at intersections will change their driving behaviors, not only at those locations, but at all intersections. If the theory holds true, there should be an overall drop in accidents. Shah's study, however, found that there was "at best, a marginal positive impact on accidents." Claims that monitoring systems keep people safe and reduce accidents, according to Shah, is simply not true.
Studies in other jurisdictions have found impacts far worse. According to the Washington Post, from 1995 to 2005, the number of crashes at monitored intersections in Washington, D.C. more than doubled and the number of accidents involving an injury or fatality climbed 81 percent.
