RED LIGHT Chicago’s cameras!

A Legislative Action Plan to Discontinue Chicago’s Red Light Camera Program

By Joe Royjoedroy@gmail.com

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How red light cameras work

• Red Light Cameras (RLCs) are connected to an intersection’s traffic light and sensors buried beneath the pavement before the white stop line

• When a vehicle passes over the sensors after the light has turned red, the camera takes still photos and video of the vehicle’s rear, focusing on the license plate

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Background

Chicago’s Red Light Program began in 2003

with two cameras.

TODAY…

http://www.photoenforced.com/us.html#.USeOtVo6V41

…There are over 380 cameras at more than 190 intersections.

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Since 2003, these cameras have generated Chicago over $375 million

in ticket revenue.

But are they actually effective beyond this revenue-generating function?

By the numbers

Chicago’s Red Light Program is now the largest in the nation.

Last year alone the city raked in $70 million dollars on red light tickets

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/02/21/critics-chicago-red-light-cameras-cheat-on-yellow-lights/

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City Crash dataThe City of Chicago claims that accidents are reduced at RLC intersections• The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

(IIHS) released a study saying that RLCs saved 159 lives in the 14 largest U.S. cities from 2004 to 2008.• The study claims that RLCs reduce t-bone

accidents

• CDOT bases its RLC placement on which intersections have the highest occurrence of t-bones

http://www.seidmanlaw.net/Legal-Articles/Chicago-s-Red-Light-Cameras-Do-They-Curb-Intersection-Accidents.shtml

Mixed results• However, a 2010 CDOT study of 96 RLC

intersections comparing the two years before installation and the two years following showed a less than 1% drop in total crashes

• These results are consistent with UIC Professor Rajiv Shah’s research, which indicates that RLCs may actually increase accidents• A study of 39 RLC intersections from 2006-2007

revealed a 6% increase in accidents• While the City vigorously contests Shah’s findings, he

points to an earlier study by the City that showed a mere 1.5% increase in safety between RLC and non-RLC intersections

http://theexpiredmeter.com/2012/03/chicago-red-light-camera-study-shows-mixed-results/http://theexpiredmeter.com/2010/06/local-professor-raising-hard-questions-about-chicagos-red-light-camera-program/

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Shortened yellow lights = more tickets

• Chicago has some of the shortest yellow lights in the country• 3 seconds, the absolute federal minimum for safety• Suburb Comparison: 4-4.5 seconds

• Drivers hit the brakes sooner now, which can cause more accidents

• Plus, even more tickets at RLC intersections

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/02/21/critics-chicago-red-light-cameras-cheat-on-yellow-lights/

Enforcement infrastructure

Oversees the citation process.RLC violations are not moving violations– they are administrative

violations, like parking tickets.

Chooses RLC intersection, installs cameras, and handles maintenance.Signs are posted at each intersection to alert drivers of the RLCs

Chicago Department of Transportation

(CDOT)

Chicago Department of

Finance- Parking Citation Administration

(PCAD)9

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Citation process

Once a RLC captures an image, it is reviewed by the camera vendor to verify the image is sufficient

Next, the images are

forwarded to the CDF,

where the PCAD reviews and processes

the images

If the PCAD believes a

violation has occurred, the license plate photo is used to identify the

registered owner of the

vehicle, and a citation is sent out

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RLC Violation defenses• The operator was issued a uniform traffic citation for a violation of

§§ 9-8-020(c) or 9-16-030(c) (for purposes of red light camera violations issued pursuant to section 9-102-020 only);

• The violation occurred when the vehicle or its state registration plates (license plates) were reported to a law enforcement agency as having been stolen, and the vehicle or its plates had notbeen recovered by the owner at the time of the alleged violation;

• The vehicle was an authorized emergency vehicle or was lawfully participating in a funeral procession;

• The facts alleged in the violation notice are inconsistent or do not support a finding that the Chicago Municipal code was violated;

• The respondent was not the owner of the cited vehicle at the time of the violation.

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/fin/supp_info/revenue/parking_and_red-lightnoticeinformation5/red_light_cameraviolationdefenses.html

Contesting a ticketOwner has 7 days from issuance to contest a ticket in

person or by mail

If no payment/contest, the owner receives a Notice of Violation allowing 14 days to request a hearing

If still no response, a Notice of Determination is sent notifying the owner he/she has been liable by default

and now has 21 days to appear in person to petition set aside default

Once the 21 days expire, a Notice of Final Determination is sent demanding immediate payment

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How much?

Tickets are generally $100

Failure to timely pay can result in a penalty equal to the ticket amount

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Due process concerns• Defendants do not always have the ability to

cross-examine their accuser in court because certifiable witnesses are not always available

• The cameras do not always positively ID the driver, so the car owner is charged by default.

• The chain of custody is attenuated: data moves electronically through the vendor chain to the city, with the potential for processing error increasing each stephttp://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2012/05/14/red-light-cameras-about-revenue-not-safety

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The human element• Driving is a complex endeavor, undertook by humans

• Unlike machines, police officers can make judgment calls• Were the roads wet?• Was the driver keeping up with traffic?• Was the driver reacting to a dangerous/reckless driver?

• Machines cannot answer these questions• Where will it end?

• The city already employs bus lane cameras and is moving forward with speeding cameras

• Further public surveillance is only a matter of time

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/275510/big-brother-bloomberg-charlie-cooke

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venue• Red light cameras are widely used and

abused across the country, with the largest concentrations found in the Nation’s largest urban centers

• This plan focuses on Chicago… with room to grow• Currently runs the Nation’s largest RLC Program• By starting local in the RLC epicenter, other

cities may follow suit

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Entry point:municipal code

Chicago Municipal Code, § 9-102-020 Automated Traffic Law Enforcement System

• “The registered owner of record of a vehicle is liable for a violation of this section and the fine set forth in § 9-100-020 when the vehicle is used in violation of § 9-8-020(c) [running a red light] or § 9-16-030(c) [making a right on red when prohibited] and a recorded image of the violation is recorded by an automated traffic law enforcement system”

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Entry point:scandal!

• On February 8, 2013 Mayor Emanuel announced the city is dropping its longtime RLC vendor, RedFlex Traffic Systems, Inc.• Recent investigations reveal thousands in

kickbacks from the company to former transportation official John Bills

• RedFlex systematically courted Bills, providing him free trips to the Super Bowl, among other perks

• Along with possible criminal allegations, the city is also auditing Redflex’s past and current financials for evidence of taxpayer defrauding

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-02-08/news/ct-met-chicago-red-light-investigation-0208-20130208_1_redflex-holdings-red-light-camera-redflex-contract

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Striking while the iron is hot

Now is the time to move into action

Let’s repeal the RLC laws once and for all!

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Policy paramours• IL State Senator Dan Duffy, 26th District

• SB2466 in 2009– called for repeal of automated traffic laws

• Bill died, but not before garnering 18 other co-sponsors

• Alderman John Arena (Ward 45) and 23 others• Recently introduced a Resolution calling for a

hearing on the process and criteria used for RLC site selection• Inquiry is whether RLCs have mainly increased safety

or revenue• My alderman, Rey Cólon, along with many surrounding

area aldermen, have all signed on as sponsors

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Proposed solution• In lieu of this high profile scandal, people are

talking seriously about doing away with the cameras once and for all

• Evidence of the cameras’ ineffectiveness at increasing public safety should be presented at the public hearings

• And our elected officials should hear, firsthand, the outcry from ordinary citizens over the RLCs

• Given the timing, a bill like SB2466 could be successful

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Stakeholders• Constituency Groups• Illinois Policy Institute• 2010: Brian Costin testified before IL Senate on RLC

pros/cons• Cited at least 9 studies raising concern about RLC

effectiveness• Mr. Costin & the Institute continues to question RLCs and

supports the hearings• Cook County Campaign for Liberty• RLCs are “unsafe, unwanted, and unconstitutional”• Will be targeting “weakest” aldermen over next 3 years.

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Stakeholders• Individuals/Small Groups• The Expired Meter

• A website devoted to providing “news, views, [and] information on Driving in Chicago”

• Obtains quantitative research through FOIA Requests• Stephen Hinton

• Started online petition to present to mayor once 10K signatures reached

• There are currently 310 signatures, including my own• “I HATE Chicago red light cameras!!” FB page

• Over 10K Likes and growing

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Taking it to the streets

• This plan is all about public support• The more our elected officials know how fed up

we are with the cameras, the better

• What better way to garner support than by calling awareness to the cameras themselves• Data is available on which intersections bring

the city the most revenue• Demonstrations at these intersections would

raise public awareness

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Strength in numbers• Some states are already considering

discontinuing their RLC programs• In FL, a bill revoking the RLCs is gaining speed

in the legislature• The ban was advanced in a House committee

last week in a 10-8 vote, pushing the bill to the full chamber

• As of yesterday, the state senate is considering fixes to the system

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/02/22/states-local-governments-join-push-to-turn-off-red-light-cameras/

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/fixes-for-flawed-red-light-camera-law-are-underway-state-senator-says/1276663

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Marketing/outreach• Volunteers can pass out stop sign pins

directing people to the website• redlightchicagoscameras.wordpress.com

• Solidarity with other stakeholders• Sign the petition• Support the constituency groups

• Attend the hearing!

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RED LIGHT Chicago’s cameras!